Arunachalam Munshi

Invented low-cost sanitary napkin machines to empower rural women in India

Arunachalam Munshi, born in 1955 in a rural Tamil Nadu village, revolutionized menstrual health management through his innovative engineering solutions. Distressed by his wife's suffering from unaffordable sanitary products, he invented a manually operated machine in 1998 that produces cost-effective eco-friendly napkins. His invention reduced production costs by 30% and enabled rural women to access affordable hygiene products while creating local employment opportunities. Munshi's organization has trained over 10,000 women in self-employment through these machines, earning him the Padma Shri award in 2016. His work directly addresses the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality, with case studies featured in academic journals and BBC documentaries. The WHO cites his model as a best practice in menstrual health management strategies.