Centre planning to distribute free sanitary napkins in schools: Bharati

Keeping in mind the issue of menstrual hygiene, the Centre is soon going to come out with a scheme focusing on providing free sanitary napkins and safe disposal methods for the convenience of women, Union minister Uma Bharti said today.
The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has issued guidelines for menstrual hygiene management which is an integral part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM).
Briefing the media today, the Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation said that the government is working on a three-pronged project focusing on women hygiene.
"There is another task force we have constituted. I have spoken to (Union ministers) Maneka Gandhi and Smriti Irani. We will very soon make a package programme on how to make these sanitary napkins at low cost, how we can provide women at their homes or even distribute free to girl students in schools and also dispose them off so that they don't create any health hazard," Bharti told reporters.

The minister also stated that she wants to ensure that a part of the amount which is given to gram panchayats is compulsorily spent on steps for menstrual hygiene.
Bharti said that Open Defecation Free (ODF), solid waste management and community based drinking water projects would also generate employment.
"When we will go for ODF plus programme of solid waste management, or community based drinking water programme , we will also see how employment can be generated from such programmes. It will also include skill development schemes. When we will try to make areas clean, we will also see how people will get employment through our programmes," Bharti said.

The minister said there is a major contribution of MNREGA in the success of ODF and her ministry is hopeful that it will get the help of the central scheme for future projects too. Bharti said that she has already spoken to the prime minister regarding this.