Irfana Zargar’s initiative ‘Eva Safety’ aims at providing free sanitary pads among other things to women at public toilets in Srinagar, and it has won her huge admiration. Apart from sanitary pads, the kit comprises medicines and sanitizers as well.
Zargar, who works in the private sector, has dedicated the initiative to her late father. She hit upon the idea of helping college-going girls and the poor, less privileged women with sanitary napkins after wanting to do some charity work in her father’s name. She spends half her salary on the purchase of these kits.
But Zargar wants more people to come forward and help. More support to Eva Safety would mean more of the city would be covered, helping even more women. She fears her initiative would suffer unless people supported it.
Inspired by the noble act, Shazia Mehraj, a doctor, has also joined Eva Safety. “Initially, I was reluctant to join her mission, but I couldn’t hold back because the initiative is very noble,” Mehraj said.
Mehraj says she is impressed by the work put in and dedication shown by Zargar to the cause, and is always there for moral support. However, she is worried about the kits getting stolen by unscrupulous elements would undermine the good work being done by them.
In Kashmir, there is wide awareness about menstruation, but the topic is not discussed in public. Mothers discuss the topic with their daughters at homes, but no discussion takes place in schools and college about women’s health and the issues they endure every month.
