Asha Devi

Indian menstrual health activist who engineered biodegradable sanitary solutions

Asha Devi (1992-present) tackled menstrual health crises in rural India by inventing "GreenCycle" pads made from water hyacinth and banana fibers. Her innovations:

• Reduced sanitary waste by 82% in 340 villages
• Created women-led manufacturing cooperatives
• Developed solar-powered sterilization units

Through her PadBank initiative, over 1.2 million girls gained access to affordable hygiene products. Devi's mobile education clinics have trained 47,000 women in reproductive health management. Her TEDx talk on circular feminine care solutions went viral with 28M views.