Policy ready to distribute free sanitary napkins in schools, Supreme Court said- Government should ensure national model
According to the petitioners, the lack of provision for menstrual hygiene is a major obstacle to girls' education. Many girls drop out of school due to a lack of sanitary napkins and separate toilets for menstrual hygiene. The lawyer appearing for the Center told the court that a draft of the national policy for the distribution and disposal of sanitary napkins in schools has been prepared.
A draft of the national policy regarding the distribution and disposal of sanitary napkins in government schools has been prepared. This information was given by the Central Government in the Supreme Court on Monday. The government sought four weeks from the court and said that the opinion of all the stakeholders and the general public has to be gathered on the prepared draft.
The court gave four weeks to the central government and directed it to ensure the provision of national model toilets for girls in proportion to their numbers in all government and aided schools. On the sanitary napkin distribution scheme, the court asked the central government to look at the schemes implemented by various state governments in this regard before finalizing the policy and then making a comprehensive policy.
These instructions were given by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on Monday during the hearing on the petition of Congress leader Jaya Thakur. Jaya Thakur has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, raising the issue of menstrual hygiene, demanding the distribution of sanitary napkins to female students studying in classes 6 to 12 in schools and the construction of separate toilets for girls.
The petitioner says that the lack of provision for menstrual hygiene is a major hindrance in the education of girls. Many girls drop out of school due to a lack of sanitary napkins and separate toilets for menstrual hygiene. When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, the lawyer appearing for the Center told the court that a draft of the national policy regarding the distribution and disposal of sanitary napkins in schools has been prepared.
The court said that before finalizing the policy, the central government should also look at the schemes for distributing sanitary napkins in schools in the states so that an overall national policy can be prepared. Senior advocate Vibha Dutt Makhija, appearing for Jaya Thakur, raised the issue of infrastructural facilities in schools and separate toilets for girls with the court. Makhija also referred to a 2012 order in which the court had ordered the construction of separate toilets for girls in schools.
The bench directed the Central Government to ensure a national model of providing toilets in proportion to the number of female students in government and aided schools. Jaya Thakur's petition not only demands the distribution of sanitary napkins in schools and separate toilets for girls but also calls for a three-level awareness campaign.
Such as conducting menstrual hygiene and health awareness campaigns, providing adequate sanitation, and distributing sanitary napkins to women in deprived areas at low cost or free of cost. Arrangements should be made for proper disposal of sanitary napkins and things used during menstruation.
