Spreading menstrual hygiene awareness in schools: AAP to HC

The AAP government is spreading menstrual hygiene awareness among adolescent girls in the city schools and are providing sanitary napkins every month "free of cost", it has told the Delhi High Court.
A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal was also informed that even teachers in these school were imparted training on the issue of menstruation.
"The teachers were trained on the issue so as to ensure a more sensitised and well-informed environment for the female students in schools here," additional standing counsel Sanjoy Ghose, submitted while filing an affidavit on behalf of the Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE).

The affidavit was filed in view of the court's query to the Delhi government to apprise it about the programmes they have undertaken or intended to undertake on spreading awareness about menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in the schools.
The court posted the matter for further hearing on March 13.
The DoE in its affidavit also said that they were on their own implementing the 'Kishori Yojana' (scheme) for the purpose, for which requisite funding is provided by the Delhi government.

"Under the scheme, we are spreading awareness about and promoting menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls. Ensuring promotion of safe and hygienic practices during menstrual period," the DoE stated.

"The scheme caters to approximately eight lakh registered beneficiaries, who are adolescent girls enrolled (class VI to XII) in the government girls school/government co-ed schools, government aided schools," it said, adding that each of the girls are given "one packet (containing 10 pieces) of sanitary napkins free of cost on a hand-to-hand basis".
The court's direction came during the hearing of a plea by advocate Setu Niket, who sought direction to the Centre, the Delhi government and civic bodies to establish a mechanism to provide education on mensuration and menstrual hygiene in all schools here.
The petitioner through her counsel Esha Mazumdar told the court that according to a survey, the school dropout rate for girls was the most during puberty.

She had sought direction to the authorities to ensure that menstrual hygiene products were made available to adolescent girls in schools free of cost or at subsidised rates.
The plea had also sought the establishment of a mechanism to provide education to girls aged 11-14 years about menstrual hygiene and safeguards, and access to trained female teachers or health counsellors in schools on a weekly or monthly basis for imparting education on the issue.
Meanwhile, the New Delhi Municipal Council informed the court that the girls, studying in their schools, were given sanitary napkins on the last working day of each month.

"All New Delhi Municipal Council/navyug schools already have separate toilets for girls, boys and school staff which are maintained by their civil department," the council said in its affidavit.
The plea said it was imperative to sensitise children in the 10-14 age group about menstrual hygiene and every possible effort should be made by the State to help girls continue with their education.