No matter how much we tend to ignore but we all know deep down our hearts that disposable pads are doing no good to our bodies and our environment.

But what do we do with this wisdom?

Have we dropped using sanitary napkins and picked up cotton pads or menstrual cups or other eco-friendly options instead? While you may answer this, let us introduce you to a healthy world of cotton pads brought to life by UGER.

Based out of Udaipur, UGER spreads awareness about menstruation, creates eco-friendly sanitary pads, targets and locates economically weaker sections of women and trains them to stitch pads and make their living. To lessen the skepticism among women to use cloth pads, Indian Women Blog spoke to Smriti Kedia, Head –

To lessen the skepticism among women about using the cloth pads, Indian Women Blog spoke to Smriti Kedia, Head of Operations, Training, and Sales at UGER.

How did you conceive the idea of UGER Pads?

Project UGER is the baby of Laxmi Murthy. She worked as a communication designer for a long time. Having started by creating tools that can be used in the field of reproductive and menstrual health, in 2011, UGER was born as a “Stitching Self-Help-Group,” consisting of women from lower economic communities in Udaipur. In summer 2012, the group started producing UGER pads. These pads are made with the intention to curb the usage of disposable products around the world and to bring back respect to reuse.

Having read that you guys are based out of Udaipur, do you source these beautiful cotton fabrics from Rajasthan itself?

Yes. All our fabrics are locally sourced. The cotton fabrics are purchased locally.

Introduce us to the members of the UGER team? Do all the women use UGER pads?

We work out of a basti in Udaipur. At the moment we have five women working in the stitching team of UGER. These women are not traditional tailors and they have very limited skills in stitching. To enhance their stitching abilities, we even conduct tailoring sessions and workshops for them. And, when they are not stitching pads, they are busy making paper folders, bags, cloth envelopes, potlis, etc.

Yes, everybody uses UGER pads. We also of offer discounts to our employees!

How are the pads made? What cloth is used in UGER Pads?

First, we procure fabrics from our trusted vendors in Udaipur. Then the cloth is sent to the UGER center where they are cut. After that, they are machine stitched and preserved in cotton potlis. The cotton potlis are also completely biodegradable.

We use pure cotton cloth in making the pads. However, sometimes we get the mixed cotton too. So we have to be very cautious as to what fabric we use.

And what about the dyed cloth that gets in direct contact with the skin. Isn’t it harmful?

We use very light and subtle colors for making our pads. The cloth that is in direct touch with the skin is flannel. Flannel is always of white color. This is something we have never changed about our pads despite getting several feedbacks to make them colored.

Though we do not use bleeding cotton, we ask all our customers to first wash the pad and then use. This minimizes the chances of the dye leaking and makes ensures one’s own hygiene.

Who is your target customer?

We cater to everybody starting from rural to urban. We began with rural India and they still remain our major stakeholders. But we do delve in urban areas too. They are the ones who are educated and can make a difference.

These pads have to be washed and reused. Do you think you’ll be able to tap the upper-middle-class section? How do you change the perception that washing and reusing are gross?

The upper-middle class women are educated and have the purchasing power to buy the stuff.

This attitude is unfortunate. Washing and reusing is not the only problem for them. They feel ashamed of drying the pads in the sun. This is a part of our larger awareness initiative. We want people to stop being shy. When they can hang their undergarments, why not their pads? We intend to cater to more and more people who are washing machine friendly.

Let’s face it the disposable pads cause itching. Where most of us lack is that we are not aware of the better alternatives.

We all worry about the leakage. 

See cloth will be cloth. It instantly absorbs in its multiple layers. Thus one should know for how long it can be used. What disposable pads do is that they convert the blood into a gel. Due to this people forget to keep a track on how much time the pad is to be used.

Thus, cotton pads are a blessing in disguise! They’ll remind you to keep changing your pad often.

Coming back to leakage, well, they don’t if used properly. We have a different variety of pads, an insert pad with insert towels, a light pad and a panty liner, serving different purposes. It is like wearing 6 underwears together.

Why does the UGER logo have a sun?

“UGER” in Mewari language means “new beginnings”. Thus the rising sun is a symbol of fresh beginnings.

Tell us about your happy customers.

I’d like to share the two of the feedbacks that we had received.

Dr. Taru Jindal, a Gynecologist, wrote to us, ‘’I wanted to say that I am in love with Uger pads. I have not used plastic napkins for last one year and women of my family also have stopped using plastic pads since 1 year. They give me an amazing feeling of being one with nature. They are eco-friendly, healthy, comfortable and aesthetic. I love the way it hangs in the balcony and looks like a bird!!’’

Prayaag Joshi, Imlee Mahuaa School, from Chattisgarh, told us, “The girls of my school are finding the pads very good, some have taken two potlis and some are able to manage only with three pads. The education material too was very useful.”

Some time back we wrote about menstrual cups. Which is a better option and why?

Well, I would ask people to choose their comfortable factor and use what suits them best. Talking particularly about menstrual cups, it’s just that some are comfortable using cups, some are not. We are blessed that we have choices between the two sustainable products. If I were to answer, I would personally use cloth pads. They are a comfortable midway between cloth and pad that if I use will help me take care of my health and the environment.

Where can we order the pads from? Are they accessible for both rural and urban India?

You can order the UGER pads here. Well, in rural India we don’t expect them to buy so we teach them to make their own pads. We train them to both hand-stitch and machine-stitch their pads. We have also tied up with the Bihar Government, Maharashtra Government and other state governments to train self-help women groups.