Pune, 4 March 2026: Ujaas, founded by Advaitesha Birla under the Aditya Birla Education Trust, has expanded its women-led manufacturing network with the launch of a new Ujaas Green Manufacturing Unit in Wardha in collaboration with the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission. Timed with the approach of Women’s Day, the initiative reinforces Ujaas’ commitment to advancing women’s economic independence through scalable grassroots enterprise models.
With this addition, Ujaas now operates two Ujaas Green Manufacturing Units in Maharashtra, collectively employing 45 SHG women and creating livelihood opportunities for nearly 1,500 additional women across the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. The earlier unit in Jalna has demonstrated strong outcomes, producing 111,125 reusable cloth pads over two years and establishing community-run manufacturing as a sustainable driver of local economic participation.
The Jalna unit has successfully distributed cloth pads locally and across neighbouring districts including Sambhajinagar, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, and Buldhana, while also expanding its reach across Maharashtra and pan-India through the Ujaas Menstrual Health Express Campaign. The campaign facilitated free pad distribution across 25 states and 121 cities, significantly strengthening awareness, accessibility, and outreach.
Poonam Patkar, Head – Ujaas, said “The Ujaas Green Manufacturing Unit is designed as a fully women-managed production ecosystem — from cutting and stitching to quality control, packaging, marketing, and sales coordination. Based on the performance of our Jalna unit, each participating woman can earn a stable annual income of around ₹75,000 depending on skill and product demand, ensuring predictable financial support for her family while each SHG collectively benefits from sustained enterprise income. Beyond production, women are trained in financial literacy, hygiene standards, and business processes so they can independently manage and grow the unit. This is not just employment — it is structured livelihood ownership that builds confidence, skills, and long-term economic security.”
The new facility is projected to manufacture more than 55,000 reusable cloth pads annually, further strengthening Ujaas’ growing network of women-led production hubs. The initiative demonstrates how regions with active SHG ecosystems can build locally managed enterprises that generate income while addressing essential health needs.
In addition to enterprise creation, participating women lead awareness sessions in their communities to promote informed menstrual health practices and reduce stigma. Ujaas Green Cloth Pads are reusable and chemical-free, offering an affordable alternative to disposable products while reducing menstrual waste and supporting environmentally responsible consumption.
This expansion marks another step in Ujaas’ mission to scale women-driven grassroots enterprises across Maharashtra, creating sustainable pathways for livelihood generation, entrepreneurship, and community-led development.
