Karnataka Government Relaunches Scheme To Give Free Sanitary Pads To 19 Lakh School, College Girls

Bengaluru: After it was stalled for the last four years, the Karnataka Government on Wednesday (February 28) re-started the Shuchi scheme for menstrual hygiene by supplying sanitary napkins to around 19 lakh adolescent girls at the school and college levels.

According to officials, through the relaunched scheme, the Karnataka Health Department will provide free sanitary napkins to around 19 lakh girls (aged 10 to 18 years) in government and aided schools and colleges across the state. The health department will directly deliver sanitary pads to the schools which will be distributed to the girls by the heads.

Also Read: 48 Crore Sanitary Pads Sold Since 2018 Under Government Scheme, Rural Usage Up From 12% To 45%

Each kit would have 10 sanitary napkins in a pack. Napkins required for one year will be given to the girl students.

State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said this scheme is important for the hygiene and health of girl students.

Earlier, the project was started by the previous Siddaramaiah-led state government. However, Mr Rao said, he doesn’t know why such an important project was stopped by the later (BJP-led) government. He said,

In our Congress government, after I became the Health Minister, I had announced that the scheme would be revived.

While the Congress government has implemented Shakti and Gruha Lakshmi Scheme in favour of women, the Shuchi Yojana, which was started with a collective vision for girls’ health, cannot be ignored, he said, adding,

We are providing free sanitary napkins to 19 lakh school and college girls at a cost of 47 crores. Girls from very poor families cannot not afford it.

Also Read: Menstrual Hygiene A Priority At The Khelo India University Games

The Minister also emphasised that menstruation is a natural process and that there is no need for girls to be hesitant about this.

There are some superstitions attached to it and it is important to get rid of them and create awareness about cleanliness and the use of sanitary napkins, he said.

Cleanliness and scientific management of menstruation are important for girls’ health, he added. Mr Rao said,

As an alternative to sanitary pads, we have implemented a pilot program in two districts to distribute menstrual cups under Shuchi Yojana. Menstrual cups are eco-friendly and the project has received a good response.

The Health Minister also said that the health department will take up a program to create more awareness about the use of menstrual cups instead of sanitary pads.

Also Read: National Youth Day: Four Youngsters From Kashmir Work For Menstrual Health And Hygiene Among Rural Girls

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.