GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3170
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2024
PROMOTION OF MENSTRUAL HEALTH
3170. DR. D RAVI KUMAR:
Will the Minister of HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government plan to mandate the provision of free sanitary pads in schools, especially for girls in classes 6 to 12, to promote menstrual health and education equity in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure accurate data collection and assessment of the ground realities before finalizing and implementing policies related to free sanitary pad distribution in the country;

(c) whether it is a fact that the policy has failed to include provision for essential support systems like housekeeping and staff availability in schools, especially in districts like Damoh, Madhya Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the details of the measures undertaken to ensure the availability of sanitary pads in Government middle schools, where the lack of access disproportionately impacts girls aged 12 to 15 years; and

(e) the manner in which the Government is likely to address the inconsistencies in the data, such as the inflated percentages regarding sanitary napkin usage, that were used to frame the policy on menstrual hygiene in the country?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) to (e) The Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene among adolescent girls in the age group of 10-19 years is implemented to increase awareness among adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene, access to and use of sanitary napkins by adolescent girls and safe disposal of sanitary napkins in an environmentally friendly manner. The Scheme is implemented across the entire country to cover adolescent girls. Since 2015-16, the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme is supported by National Health Mission through State Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) route based on the proposals received from the States to manage menstrual hygiene needs. The Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School Going girls focusses on availability and accessibility of safe and low-cost menstrual hygiene products in all Government and Government-aided schools for girls. The policy is applicable to the entire country and all line Ministries Departments of Central and State Governments.

The Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School Going Girls incorporates inputs following detailed deliberations with the line Ministries as Education, Women and Child Development, Jal Shakti, Home Affairs, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Pollution Control Board/Bodies, Chemical and Fertilizers, Consumer Affairs, Rural and Urban Development and all States and Union Territories. It is synchronised with the existing schemes for effective implementation taking into consideration the various aspects of menstrual hygiene management.

The Policy incorporates aspects of access to clean, gender-segregated toilets and adequate washing and disposal facilities in Government and Government-aided schools, ensuring that girls can manage their menstruation safely, hygienically, and with dignity.

The data referenced in the National Menstrual Hygiene Policy is sourced from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS5), a reliable and validated dataset to give comprehensive details of use of various hygiene practices.