Mountains of Cloth, a Hidden Possibility
After the 2005 tsunami in Tamil Nadu, truckloads of discarded clothes were left abandoned. Where others saw disaster wastage, Goonj saw a resource — and a potential solution to an overlooked issue. More than 100 truckloads of cloth were redirected from landfills into Goonj’s processing centers. Among the women working to sort this cloth were those from Chennai’s informal settlements. Their hands and lived experiences shaped what would become one of Goonj’s most impactful ideas — the MY Pad.
The Making of MY Pad
With practical trials by women themselves, a reusable cotton pad was born — simple, washable, and locally made. The design, size, and layers were finalized based on real use, not theory. MY Pad became not just a product, but a response to what most menstrual health campaigns overlooked — affordability, cultural familiarity, and respect for dignity.
Women making MY Pads in Goonj’s center
More Than Cloth — Breaking Silence on Menstruation
From Chennai’s streets to far-flung villages, MY Pad sparked conversations. Women who had never spoken about periods began asking questions, sharing stories, and owning their choices. It soon became clear: the shame and silence around menstruation wasn’t limited to rural India — it lived in cities, schools, and workplaces too.
Scaling Dignity with Every Stitch
Over the past decade, Goonj has channelized over 8.3 million MY Pads and 700,000+ undergarments across rural and urban India. Each pad made is not just a product — it’s a conversation starter, a mindset shift, and a step towards normalising menstruation as a human issue, not just a women’s issue.
“It’s the First Time I’ve Talked About This”
Whether it was Sheela ji explaining MY Pads to a man at a stall or a student pledging to speak openly with his sister — the MY Pad journey is filled with stories of empathy, confidence, and change from within communities.
Cloth as a Currency of Dignity
MY Pad is not about replacing market products — it’s about giving people a choice that’s rooted in their context. And it all began with clothes many had discarded. Today, that cloth has become a carrier of awareness, care, and change — stitched with dignity, channelized with intent.
NJPC awareness session
Be a Part of Change
Our invitation to you is, start from where you are.. From a small change of starting a Goonj kee Gullak or Team 5000, joining a long and deep change process, or things in between- organising a collection drive, a volunteering journey, an internship, or simply walking with us signing for a Goonj monthly newsletter subscription.. More on www.goonj.org or write to [email protected].
Many options, but the choice is always one; Taking Action..
