Seema Khandale – a social worker by heart

There couldn’t be a better representation of freedom than the “Soul of a Woman.” Here’s another story of a woman, Seema Khandale, whose soul is as free as the sun, toiling day and night to light up the world.

Seema Khandale, is a social activist and mother of two. Seema always inclined social work, which made her pursue and complete her MSW (Masters in Social Work) after 20 happy years of her marriage. She also proudly acknowledges her decision to fulfilling her dream of working for society as it brought her tremendous respect and unique identity. Working selflessly for others without any money is not an easy thing to do.

Seema Khandale founded Ashay Social Group, NGO, in 2015. She is a mother herself. The compassion in her heart pushed her to associate herself with two significant projects that feed care for the environment in the hearts of enthusiasts.

She describes her two projects as:

#Avoid Plastic Carry bags and Use Cloth bags

Mother earth bore the weight of human development reasonably well until a few decades ago. Humans invented plastic. Seema’s project aims at eradicating this misery of mother earth. A 3R- project, as she fondly calls it, to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. A humble initiative where the NGO asks for old sarees, dupattas, blouse pieces, etc., manufactures cloth bags. They also distribute the cloth bags in nearby areas for free. The initiative encourages cloth bags which are of paramount importance in human existence. Her team has distributed more than 28,000 bags as yet and plans to distribute more. While she might have considered selling those bags at lower prices, she believes in gifting. Her humble heart also feels that gifting is returning to society, returning the respect and love her initiatives have received from society.

#Awareness and Promotion of Hygienical, Healthy Sustainable Menstruations option like Menstrual Cup and Cloth pads

Menstruation is a natural process in women. For their convenience, most women use sanitary pads during menstruation. Manufacturers make sanitary pads from dozens of chemicals and non-decomposable polymers and plastics. Seema knew the ineluctability of sanitary pads during periods as a woman herself. She started looking for other environment-friendly initiatives. This quest took her to a magazine, in which she read to use an object as innovative as a cup at the time of periods. Surprised at the existence of such an object, she decided to try it out herself. After a few months of research online, she also got her first Menstrual Cup, and usage was successful. In June 2016, after her first use of the menstrual cup, she also realized that menses could be rash, stains, and trash free too.

Seema Khandale never looked back to sanitary pads again. While sanitary pads and tampons are the most convenient option available in markets for menstruation days, menstrual cups are the most environment-friendly ones. Sanitary napkins are the use and throw option. On average, a female throws away 12-15 sanitary napkins every month, equal to 144-150 in a year, which would equate to 6000 in a whole lifetime. Additionally, a single sanitary pad of plastic would take 500-1000 years to decompose. So everything sums up to form a significant scar on the face of mother earth.

Challenges with napkin

Everyone throws used napkins in domestic waste bins, which triggers a significant health risk to the waste collectors. Burning these pads creates toxic fumes of dioxins, which are highly carcinogenic. This sanitary waste sometimes makes its way into our sewage system, landfills, and water bodies. The government has introduced specific rules and regulations to manage sanitary waste, but their implementation still lies in the dark. But we, too, are responsible for caring for mother earth for the sake of humanity. Moreover, we must not forget the earth is the only source of fulfillment of our every need, and hence we must give our best to protect it.

After she became well familiar with the product, she also realized that the main reason menstrual cups were uncommon was the lack of awareness and misconceptions about the procedure of use. It is said- “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Seema did the same. To bring about a supportive environment change in the world, she started spreading awareness amongst the women she knew; her friends, relatives, neighbors. She bought two more menstrual cups and studied them in detail. Higher prices discouraged women from buying.

RUTU Cup

The turning point came in Seema’s life when she received a chance to design a menstrual cup, and she named it RUTU CUP.

The menstrual cup is a cup-like structure of 100% silicone, medically graded material. It is non-toxic and made up of non-allergic material. It is worn inside the vagina to collect the menstrual fluid at the time of periods. The technique to wear and remove the cup is simple, with no pain! The practice would lead to perfection. Minimal water is required to wash the cup, making it more of an environmentally sustainable option.

Moreover, the Menstrual cup is a reusable and reasonable option too. Every month, women spend rupees 100 to 150 on sanitary pads, which would roughly amount to rupees 1500 to 2000 in a year. At the same time, the price of a menstrual cup is approximately 1000 rupees. One can use a single menstrual cup for 8 to 10 years.

Awareness Campaign

In the last 3.9 years of her awareness campaign, Seema Khandale has interacted with women of various schools, colleges, government, corporate offices, Mahila mandals, and various other maids, Anganwadi sevikas, street women’s, sportspersons, visually challenged, physically challenged, and even the Doctors. She has tried her best to sensitize them about RUTU Cup. She has a beautiful achievement to her credit – she has changed the lifestyle of 2000+ women into an eco-friendly one.

Furthermore, she has aided those who cannot afford menstrual cups in the self manufacture of cloth pads using old clothes at home. Many schools, colleges, NGO groups have helped her conduct such workshops. Although Seema lives in Mumbai, she manages to spread awareness to other cities by traveling or calling the volunteers in Mumbai and instructing them about the process.

Achievements

Seema’s caring initiative has brought numerous awards to her credit:

She has been a speaker at grand motivational events like TedxKharghar and TedxTaraBaiPark.
In 2018, she was honored as Bai Manoos for the Facebook Live by Lokmat on International Women’s Day.
She was elected as ‘Top 30 Awardees’ as “Dhasu Woman” from over 1000 nominations.
She was also honored by Lokmat as Social Entrepreneur Awards 2018 for her social work.
On 11th Dec 2018, she was honored by the Bahina Bai award, for working for Women’s Health, by Gurunath Foundation, Muktainagar, in Guidance of Shri Eknathrao Khadse Sir and RakshaTai Khasde in Bhusawal.
She received the Tarunai award from Jantaraja Pratishthan, Pune.
She was also honored by REA Foundation, Panvel.
Better India, The wonder woman world, and Samachar live featured her.
She was also awarded Best 5, In Maharastra, by Fandry Foundation.

Seema has devoted her life to social service. She is a social enthusiast who works her best not just to save the environment but also to enable zero compromises on the side of humans. The best and sustainable way to care for the environment is by developing safer, environment-friendly alternatives to polluting objects, and that’s precisely what she did.

Seema Khandale’s zest for making a difference to the world, combined with her spirit of serving others through her caring ways and genuine initiatives, is truly inspiring to many of us.

At the Story of Souls, Ma’am, we wish you all the best for your caring endeavors. May you continue to touch everyone’s lives in your beautiful ways!

Our Storyteller:

MD. Danish Arman.

About our writer in his own words,

I grew up in the soothing shade of qualities like hard work, sincerity, and dedication, and they eventually got imbibed in my life.

“NO MATTER HOW TOUGH MAY SEEM THE CLIMB

KEEP MOVING, KEEP FIGHTING ONE WIN AT A TIME.” Reach him at email id.

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