By Rashmi Mishra
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has become the first state in India to install sanitary napkin vending machines in its schools.
The southern Indian state government initiated a ‘She Pad’ program. Under this scheme, an estimated US$4.6 million has been set aside to install the vending machines in nearly 1,845 higher secondary schools, which includes both private and government sectors.
The project is implemented through Kerala State Women Development Corporation (KSWDC) which will distribute sanitary napkins, cupboards and incinerators.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was quoted saying, “Every woman has a right to menstrual hygiene. The government’s ‘She Pad’ scheme is aimed to distribute healthy and clean sanitary pads to all school students across the state. An eco-friendly disposal system and distilleries for used pads will be distributed as part of the scheme.”
He further added in a statement, “The project is being implemented with the support of local self-government institutions under the leadership of the State Women Development Corporation, KWDC.” Tax free sanitary pads campaign gains momentum, celebrities tweet support with #LahuKaLagaan
Previous year Social Justice Minister K K Shailaja had announced about providing sanitary napkin vending machines facility in the schools while speaking about the plan to set up Nirbhaya shelter homes in all districts.
KSWDC managing director VC Bindu was quoted speaking to TOI, “With the state government order in Jan last year, now 18 panchayats have transferred a total amount of Rs 1.36 crore till date for the She-Pad project. It is planned for launch next month. Subsidized high quality sanitary napkins will be distributed to the 16 lakh adolescent girls of 7,000 schools across 14 districts in Kerala.”
She added more by saying, “This scheme is based on the success of the pilot project launched in the government schools in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode in the last two years.
Now, this scheme will cater to girls from 11 to 18 years in all government schools.” India’s Best Sanitary Napkin Ad by Being Indian: Insulting to women?
Several projects aimed at menstrual hygiene and protection are doing rounds in the state of Kerala.
Sanitary napkin vending machines and its incinerators getting installed in as many as 150 government and aided schools in the district of Thiruvananthapuram, in a joint venture between HLL Lifecare Ltd and the panchayat.
HLL vending machines and incinerators are also approved under the Swachh Bharat Urban and Rural programs of the Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
Lack of awareness about menstruation and menstrual hygiene is a major cause of concern across the country. A study conducted by A C Nielsen ‘Sanitary Protection: Every woman’s health right’ has made some startling revelations about the topic, which remains a taboo. Only 12 percent of India’s 355 million menstruating women use sanitary napkins. Making the sanitary napkins dream a reality in Uttar Pradesh.
Around 23 percent adolescent girls in the age-group 12 to 18 years drop out of school after they begin menstruating because of the lack of proper menstruation protection products. Even those female students who are in school have to remain absent during those five days when they are menstruating. State government’s She Pad project aims to eradicate these hurdles from lives of the aspiring female students.