Policy ready to distribute free sanitary napkins in schools, Supreme Court said- Government should ensure national model

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.