From Witch Branding to Pad Manufacturing: Shanti Rathwa's Inspiring Journey
In the serene premises of a temple in Dahod, Gujarat, where daily prayers create a spiritual atmosphere, a different kind of hum captures attention. The sound comes from small machines operated by Shanti Rathwa and a group of women who manufacture sanitary napkins right within the temple compound at Chopat Palli village.
A Life Transformed Through Perseverance
Shanti Rathwa's story is one of remarkable resilience. Twelve years ago, her own family branded her a witch, beating her and driving her out of their tribal village in Limkheda taluka. The villagers joined in the persecution, assaulting her and banishing her from the community they considered her "a bad omen."
"I had nowhere to go," recalls Rathwa, now 45. "I slept on the streets for several days before finding shelter at a religious institution outside my village." Her life could have ended in obscurity, but she chose to rebuild it stitch by stitch.
The Turning Point: Meeting Swati Bedekar
Rathwa's fortune changed when she encountered Swati Bedekar, widely known as Gujarat's "pad-woman" for her work training women in sanitary napkin production. Bedekar was conducting an educational project in Limkheda when she learned of Rathwa's ordeal.
"I was deeply moved by her story," Bedekar told TOI. "I convinced her to learn pad making as a means to achieve financial independence. Initially hesitant, Rathwa eventually agreed along with some other women."
Overcoming Resistance and Finding Sanctuary
The journey wasn't smooth. Villagers refused to provide even a small piece of land for the manufacturing unit. "That's when the priest of the Hanuman Temple offered space on the temple premises," Bedekar explained. "Given the stigma around menstruation in rural areas, this gesture was particularly surprising and encouraging."
Rathwa, a mother of two with education up to Class 7, secured financial assistance through a government scheme to purchase her first machine. But resistance continued. "Some villagers pelted stones at me and cut off power to my unit," she recounted. "They prevented women from working with me. I persisted, often working alone, and gradually began earning a decent income."
Building a Thriving Enterprise
Gradually, other women joined Rathwa's initiative. They began selling sanitary napkins to primary health centers, anganwadis, and families in nearby villages. As demand grew, Rathwa recruited girls to help market their products.
Today, her unit employs 20 women and manufactures approximately 2,000 pads daily, all while operating from the temple premises. Their products now reach 15 villages, with plans for expansion.
The transformation in Rathwa herself is equally remarkable. Once barely able to speak a few words, she now confidently interacts with government officials. "The same people who once shunned me now visit our unit," she noted with quiet satisfaction.
Beyond Business: A Campaign Against Superstition
More importantly, Rathwa has launched a personal campaign against witch-branding in her region. "I travel to different villages, share my story, and speak against this destructive superstition that has ruined countless women's lives," she explained.
From being persecuted as a supposed witch to becoming an employer and community leader, Shanti Rathwa's journey demonstrates extraordinary courage. Her sanitary napkin manufacturing unit represents more than just economic empowerment—it symbolizes the triumph of determination over discrimination and the power of one woman to transform both her own life and her community.
