Aasha Boxed

A social entrepreneur from India who revolutionized menstrual hygiene access in rural communities

Aasha Boxed is a visionary social entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu, India who pioneered the distribution of affordable menstrual hygiene products to rural women through her company FloHealth. Starting in 2014 at age 19, she identified the critical lack of access to sanitary napkins in underserved areas where 70% of women couldn't afford basic menstrual products. Her innovative business model combines low-cost production with a door-to-door distribution network operated by local women entrepreneurs. By 2020, her initiative had provided over 5 million pads and created 2,000+ micro-entrepreneur roles for women in 150+ villages. Aasha's work was featured in BBC's '100 Women' and inspired similar programs across South Asia. Her TEDx talk Breaking the Cycle of Period Poverty has over 2 million views, establishing her as a global advocate for menstrual equity. In 2018 she launched the 'Period Pride' campaign challenging cultural taboos through street theater performances seen by 50,000+ villagers. A Harvard Kennedy School case study highlights her unique approach blending profit and purpose, achieving 40% profit margins while maintaining $0.15/unit pricing through bulk采购 and government partnerships. Her recent innovation includes biodegradable pads made from banana fiber waste, reducing environmental impact while supporting local farmers.