Padman of Gujarat
Padman of Gujarat is an informal title associated with Nayan Chatraria, a social worker and art teacher from Palanpur in Banaskantha district, Gujarat, who has worked on menstrual hygiene awareness and access to sanitary products. His activities have included visiting rural communities, providing information about menstruation and hygiene, and distributing sanitary pads free of charge to girls who need them. The title is used in media coverage to describe his work in the field of menstrual health awareness in Gujarat.
History
Nayan Chatraria began working on menstrual hygiene awareness in rural areas of northern Gujarat. His activities developed around the need to address limited awareness, social stigma, and difficulties in accessing menstrual hygiene products among girls in rural communities.
According to published accounts, Chatraria's work has focused particularly on adolescent girls. He has travelled to villages to discuss menstruation openly and provide information intended to replace misconceptions with scientific understanding. His work has combined awareness activities with direct distribution of sanitary pads to girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Media reports have described Chatraria as the "Padman of Gujarat" because of this work. The expression draws a parallel with the wider use of the term "Padman" in India for individuals associated with menstrual hygiene awareness and access to sanitary products. The term became particularly prominent following public discussion of Arunachalam Muruganantham and the 2018 Hindi film Pad Man.
In August 2025, Chatraria introduced an initiative known as "Sanitary Pad Parab" in Palanpur. The initiative was designed to make sanitary pads freely available to girls who might unexpectedly need them in a public place, without requiring payment or a formal request.
Overview
Chatraria's work is primarily concerned with menstrual hygiene management, health awareness, and access to menstrual products. His activities have been reported mainly in villages of northern Gujarat, particularly in and around Banaskantha district.
His awareness sessions address menstruation as a normal biological process and discuss hygiene practices and the importance of accurate information. The approach combines educational communication with practical assistance in the form of sanitary-pad distribution.
A significant part of the initiative involves direct engagement with girls rather than relying exclusively on institutional programmes. Chatraria has visited rural settlements personally and interacted with communities where conversations about menstruation may be limited by social stigma or lack of information.
Published figures concerning the reach of his work have varied according to the date and period covered by different reports. A 2025 report stated that he had visited 476 villages in northern Gujarat, reached approximately 76,123 girls, and distributed more than 380,000 sanitary pads over the preceding three years. A later 2026 report described a larger cumulative reach of more than 508 villages and 99,500 girls, with sanitary pads worth more than ₹18 lakh distributed free of cost.
Features / Functions / Principles
The principal feature of Chatraria's work is the combination of menstrual hygiene education with access to sanitary products. Awareness activities are intended to provide girls with information about menstruation, personal hygiene, and health practices.
Another component is rural outreach. Rather than limiting the initiative to schools or urban centres, Chatraria has travelled to villages and conducted direct awareness activities. This approach has enabled the programme to reach communities where access to health information and menstrual products may be more limited.
Free sanitary-pad distribution is an additional component of the initiative. The distribution is directed toward girls described in reports as being in need of assistance. The objective is to reduce difficulties associated with the cost or availability of menstrual products.
The Sanitary Pad Parab initiative introduced another method of access. Instead of distributing products only through organised programmes, the initiative established a public point where sanitary pads could be obtained free of charge when required. The concept was intended to address situations in which a girl might need a menstrual product unexpectedly while outside her home.
The work also emphasises open discussion of menstruation. This is relevant to menstrual health because stigma and limited communication can restrict access to reliable information and appropriate hygiene practices.
Importance / Applications
Menstrual hygiene awareness is an important component of adolescent health. Reliable information can help girls understand menstruation, adopt appropriate hygiene practices, and recognise when medical advice may be required.
Initiatives such as Chatraria's provide a community-based approach to addressing menstrual product access. By combining awareness sessions with free distribution, the programme addresses both informational and practical aspects of menstrual hygiene.
The rural focus is significant because access to menstrual products and sanitation facilities can vary between communities. Research on menstrual hygiene in India has identified barriers involving affordability, availability, sanitation, disposal facilities, and awareness.
The public-access model represented by the Sanitary Pad Parab also addresses the social dimension of menstruation. Making products available without payment or a formal request can reduce some of the barriers associated with obtaining menstrual products in an emergency.
Chatraria's work has consequently been presented in regional media as an example of community-based menstrual hygiene advocacy in Gujarat. His activities combine education, rural outreach, and product distribution rather than focusing on a single aspect of menstrual health.