New Delhi: The Centre recently announced the approval of a "Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School-Going Girls," which has been endorsed by the Union Health Ministry. The announcement came during a Supreme Court hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Congress leader and social activist Jaya Thakur. The policy, aimed at improving menstrual hygiene for female students, was formally approved on November 2, 2024, following a court order issued on April 10, 2023.

The PIL, which called for the government to provide free sanitary pads to female students in Classes 6 to 12, as well as ensure the availability of separate toilet facilities for girls in all government, government-aided, and residential schools, was a catalyst for the policy's development.

In its affidavit to the court, the Centre outlined the policy's objectives, which include integrating menstrual hygiene awareness into the educational system, addressing barriers that limit girls’ mobility and participation due to a lack of awareness, and promoting better hygiene practices. The policy also focuses on tackling harmful social norms while encouraging environmentally sustainable waste management.

The Centre highlighted that over 97.5% of schools, including government and state-aided institutions, now have separate toilets for girls, with some states like Delhi, Goa, and Puducherry achieving 100% compliance. In total, more than 33.5 lakh toilets have been constructed across over 10 lakh government schools, with additional provisions in government-aided schools. However, the Centre noted that some northeastern states, including Jammu and Kashmir, still lag behind, with only 89.2% of schools offering separate facilities for girls.

Additionally, the Centre shared that a national policy for distributing menstrual hygiene products to adolescent female students is in its final stages. Thakur’s PIL underscored the challenges faced by disadvantaged adolescents in accessing menstrual hygiene resources at schools.

BI Bureau