Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether steps are being taken by the Government to ensure that the access to menstrual hygiene products is recognized as an essential right of women;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government provides assistance to ensure distribution of menstrual hygiene products in schools and public institutions;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 383* FOR 19TH JULY, 2019
Access to safe menstrual hygiene practices is an important component of Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) under National Health Mission for health and well being of adolescents. This intervention involves increasing awareness among adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene, improving access to high quality sanitary napkins by them, ensuring safe disposal of sanitary napkins in an environmentally friendly manner.
Government of India is supporting the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme, a component of Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram, by providing funds to States/UTs who propose for it in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) through National Health Mission for decentralized procurement of sanitary napkins for the adolescent girls.
Under the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme a pack of 6 sanitary napkins is provided to adolescent girls @Rs 6 per pack by the ASHA through door to door visits and also through the platforms of schools and Anganwadi Centres. ASHA gets an incentive amount of Rs 1 per pack sold to the beneficiary, besides getting a free pack of sanitary napkins per month for her personal use. The funds are also provided to ASHAs for holding monthly meetings with adolescent girls to discuss issues related to menstrual hygiene.
Besides this, Samagra Shiksha of Department of School Education and Literacy also supports interventions related to menstrual health and hygiene as per Annual Work Plans of States /UTs, including installation of sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators.