World's & India’s first-ever “Free Sanitary Pad Point (Parab)” was inaugurated from Palanpur city in Gujarat..!
In society, even today, many women hesitate to talk openly about menstruation. At such a time, a man taking up this sensitive issue concerning daughters and women has become a matter of discussion across Gujarat and the nation. That man is Nayan Chatrariya, an art teacher from Palanpur in Swastik Education Campus at Banaskantha district of North Gujarat.
At the age of 45, Nayan Chatrariya has been serving as an art teacher for the last 25 years. For the past 21 years, he has been associated with Swastik Art Academy (a part of Swastik Education Campus, Palanpur) as a co-ordinator, where he has been actively guiding children in painting, music, singing, drama, and other creative activities.
Apart from being a professional anchor and entertainer, the most unique and inspiring side of his personality is his dedication to social service.
But since 2022, his unique initiative has earned him a very special identity—he is now known as the “Padman of Gujarat.”
Initially, people made fun of his idea and didn’t support him. He even faced insults. Still, he started this initiative with his personal savings of ₹40,000. With the strong support of his wife Madhu Chatrariya and son Kumar Chatrariya, he continued this noble work with full dedication.
He began visiting Gujarat state’s remote villages, meeting school authorities, village heads, and community elders. By gathering groups of 10–14-year-old girls along with their mothers, grandmothers, and sisters, he initiated scientific awareness sessions on menstruation and the importance of using sanitary pads.
At some places, he received cooperation; at others, he faced criticism and even anger from people. Yet, without losing hope, he continued his mission. With the help of friends, relatives, and donors, in the past three years, he has reached more than 480 villages across Gujarat and educated over 78,000 girls about menstruation hygiene, breaking age-old taboos.
Till date, he has distributed over 4,50,000 sanitary pads free of cost (worth approximately ₹17 lakh).
Recently, he also launched World and India’s first-ever “Free Sanitary Pad Point (Parab)” in Palanpur at Gujarat State. Through this initiative, any woman or girl can take sanitary pads free of cost in times of emergency—without hesitation or embarrassment.
This unique movement has sparked a revolution in hygiene and health awareness, receiving wide appreciation from the media, education sector, and society across India.
It is noteworthy that Nayan Chhatriya also donates 40% of his income from anchoring events towards the purchase of sanitary pads for this initiative.
On Teachers’ Day, 5th September 2025, among India’s 36,770 innovative teachers, only 40 teachers have been selected to be honored with the prestigious “Bhaskar Best Teacher Award” in New Delhi.
Among these 40 teachers, only three are from Gujarat, and one of them is Nayan Chhatriya—the Padman of Gujarat and a dedicated art teacher from Palanpur.
Earning a place among the best teachers of India is indeed a matter of pride for Palanpur and the entire state of Gujarat..!