Arunachalam Raja

Pioneered low-cost sanitation solutions in rural India, transforming public health

Arunachalam Raja (born 1950) is a self-taught innovator from Tamil Nadu, India, who made revolutionary contributions to rural sanitation. Witnessing his wife's struggle with menstrual hygiene in 1998, he invented low-cost sanitary pads using banana fibers. His wiki page details his 14-year journey to perfect the technology despite societal stigma. Partnering with NGOs like Women Matters, he distributed over 10,000 units annually across 3,000 villages. His work inspired India's National Sanitation Campaign and earned recognition from UNICEF. In 2015, his story was adapted into Pad Man, a film showcasing grassroots innovation's power. His TED Talk emphasizes how local solutions address global challenges.