The initiative to improve the respiratory health of women in the handmade cigarette rolling industry began in Solapur in October 2020. It focused on teaching and practicing Pranayama (cardiac coherence breathing) to women constantly exposed to unburned tobacco. This program has been a successful initiative in preventive health care.

The number of women attending this program has gone up from 102 to 150 within a span of one year. We gladly share that the program is now run at 15 locations with the addition of 8 new locations in 2021. This program has created health awareness among many families in this region. This program is also becoming a powerhouse to initiate and develop the next leaders and start many other important initiatives such as micro-financing groups and skill development workshops in Solapur.