Arunachalam Muruganantham

Arunachalam Muruganantham is an Indian social entrepreneur and inventor recognized for his work in menstrual health and hygiene. Muruganantham is the inventor of a low-cost sanitary pad-making machine, which has increased access to affordable sanitary pads for women in rural India. His innovation addresses traditional unhygienic practices around menstruation and promotes menstrual health awareness in underserved communities.

Muruganantham's journey began when he observed that his wife used old rags during menstruation due to the high cost of commercial sanitary pads. Motivated to find a solution, he dedicated several years to developing a machine capable of producing high-quality, low-cost sanitary napkins. Despite facing social stigma and ostracization in his village, Muruganantham persisted in his efforts, even testing the pads himself to ensure their effectiveness. While imported machines cost significantly more, his machine is priced affordably, making it accessible to self-help groups and rural women across India.

Through his company, Jai Shree Industries, Muruganantham has distributed these machines to numerous rural areas, creating employment opportunities and enabling women to earn income during menstruation. His machines have been installed in many states across India, and his work has contributed to breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation by educating communities about menstrual health and hygiene.

Muruganantham's contributions have been recognized internationally. He was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people and included in Fortune magazine's World's 50 Greatest Leaders list. He received the Padma Shri, an Indian national award, and the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Schwab Foundation. His story has inspired several films and documentaries, including the documentary "Menstrual Man," the Hindi film "Pad Man," and the Academy Award-winning documentary "Period. End of Sentence."

Muruganantham has delivered lectures on innovation, social entrepreneurship, and women's empowerment at institutions such as IIT Bombay, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and Harvard University, and has presented a TED talk. His work demonstrates the impact of grassroots innovation in advancing public health, women's empowerment, and social change.