Question : Menstrual Hygiene

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the various programmes through which the Government is promoting menstrual hygiene in coordination with various Ministries;

(b) whether adequate funds have been provided by the Government to the States/UTs for the promotion of menstrual hygiene based on the proposals received from the States in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under the National Health Mission and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to bring a bill on paid menstrual leave to women employees, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the measures being taken to remove the stigma related to menstruation in the society?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a): Government is working to improve menstrual hygiene practices through various Ministries and details of the programme are as follows.

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is supporting the State/UTs in implementing Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene among adolescent girls. The scheme encompasses increasing awareness among adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene, improving access to and use of high sanitary napkins by adolescent girls and ensuring safe disposal of sanitary napkins in an environmentally friendly manner.
• Ministry of Human Resource development (MHRD) through the Department of School Education and Literacy, implementing an integrated scheme for School Education namely Samagra Shiksha. Under Samgra Shiksha, State specific projects for varied interventions on menstrual health and hygiene are sanctioned by the Project Approval board as per the Annual Work Plans proposed by the State/UT concerned which include installation of sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators.

Contd.......


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• Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) is implementing Scheme for Adolescent Girls to improve the nutritional and health status of out of school adolescent girls of age 11-14 years and to upgrade their skills. The scheme is implemented in all the districts for providing nutritional support to the adolescent girls, beside information on health, menstrual hygiene and guidance on existing public services.

• Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has developed National Guidelines on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) with focus on ensuring provision of functional toilets and availability of safe water.

• Department of Pharmaceutical, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janausadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP), Government provides Oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins named Suvidha. The sanitary napkin is available for Rs. 2.50 per pad to Janaushadhi Kendras across India to ensure ‘Swachhta, Swasthya and Suvidha.
(b): The States are provided funds based on the proposal received from the States in their programme implementation plan under National Health Mission. The State/UT wise details are placed at Annexure.
(c): There is no such proposal at present.
(d): Following measures are taken to reduce menstruation related stigma:
• ASHAs across the country are trained and play a significant role in promotion of use and distribution of the sanitary napkins
• Provision of incentives to ASHAs to hold monthly meeting with adolescents to discuss issues related to menstrual hygiene.
• A range of IEC material has been developed to create awareness among adolescent girls about safe & hygienic menstrual health practices which includes audio, video and reading materials for adolescent girls and job-aids for ASHAs and other field level functionaries for communicating with adolescent girls.
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