90 engineering students in city raise funds, change life for city slum girls
02.03.2018
Ranjani.Ayyar@timesgroup.com
Chennai: Ninety students of SRM University are on a mission to spread the word of hygiene in the slums of Chennai.
Through a crowdfunding campaign on Fueladream-.com , they are raising funds to distribute low-cost sanitary napkins to girls and women in the Perungulathur slum area.
Inspired by Arunachalam Muruganantham and his efforts to spread awareness on the use of sanitary pads, the students conducted a survey at various slums in the city. They are also aware that lack of sanitary napkins is one of the main causes of dropouts among schoolgirls in the country.
“We were startled to know that less than 20% of the slums get access to low cost pads. We decided to take this on as a mission,” said Ayush Dadich, president, Blooming Beacon, a studentrun NGO at SRM University.
With 90 students participating in the initiative, each student is entrusted with raising ₹10,000 within 12 days. The campaign has raised ₹5.5 lakh already.
“Initially, we were unsure about even raising ₹1 lakh though the cost of supplying one woman with pads for a year is only ₹250. We have already raised ₹5.5 lakh,” said Dadich.
Once they raise ₹9 lakh, the students plan to procure and supply these pads for a year on a monthly basis. “We have already identified suppliers and are negotiating with them. If all goes well, we should be able to start distributing by April 1,” he said.
Ranganath Thota, founder, FuelADream said, “It is a simple, high-impact initiative that is the need of the hour. Supplying pads for a year will definitely ensure awareness and change in behavior among girls and women. Crowdfunding is a great enabler and will ensure sufficient funds are raised to meet the needs of the students”
FIND A DREAM:
Saranya (from left to right), Mudit and Niyati have collected the most finances for the cause through a crowdfunding drive
02.03.2018
Ranjani.Ayyar@timesgroup.com
Chennai: Ninety students of SRM University are on a mission to spread the word of hygiene in the slums of Chennai.
Through a crowdfunding campaign on Fueladream-.com , they are raising funds to distribute low-cost sanitary napkins to girls and women in the Perungulathur slum area.
Inspired by Arunachalam Muruganantham and his efforts to spread awareness on the use of sanitary pads, the students conducted a survey at various slums in the city. They are also aware that lack of sanitary napkins is one of the main causes of dropouts among schoolgirls in the country.
“We were startled to know that less than 20% of the slums get access to low cost pads. We decided to take this on as a mission,” said Ayush Dadich, president, Blooming Beacon, a studentrun NGO at SRM University.
With 90 students participating in the initiative, each student is entrusted with raising ₹10,000 within 12 days. The campaign has raised ₹5.5 lakh already.
“Initially, we were unsure about even raising ₹1 lakh though the cost of supplying one woman with pads for a year is only ₹250. We have already raised ₹5.5 lakh,” said Dadich.
Once they raise ₹9 lakh, the students plan to procure and supply these pads for a year on a monthly basis. “We have already identified suppliers and are negotiating with them. If all goes well, we should be able to start distributing by April 1,” he said.
Ranganath Thota, founder, FuelADream said, “It is a simple, high-impact initiative that is the need of the hour. Supplying pads for a year will definitely ensure awareness and change in behavior among girls and women. Crowdfunding is a great enabler and will ensure sufficient funds are raised to meet the needs of the students”
FIND A DREAM:
Saranya (from left to right), Mudit and Niyati have collected the most finances for the cause through a crowdfunding drive