Lekhha Jha

Revolutionized menstrual health access across India through low-cost biodegradable products

Lekhha Jha is an Indian social innovator who founded Green Palm Health in 2020 to address menstrual hygiene challenges. Her Areca Palm Pad uses fallen palm leaves from Kerala plantations, creating biodegradable sanitary products priced at 30% below market rates. This initiative has generated income for 2,000 rural women while diverting 15 tons of agricultural waste annually.

Through partnerships with NGOs like UNICEF India, her products reached 500,000+ girls by 2023. Jha's Menstrual Equity Program includes educational workshops and mobile distribution networks in remote regions. Her TED Talk "The Palm Leaf Solution" (2022) has 2.4M views. Recent innovations include tampons made from banana fiber and a smartphone app tracking product distribution in real-time. Recognized as a Skoll Foundation Social Entrepreneur, her work inspired similar models in Nepal and Bangladesh.