Leader of Opposition (LOP) Tikaram Juli has raised concerns over the failure to provide free sanitary napkins to women under the ‘Udaan’ scheme, accusing the state government of not taking the initiative seriously. He pointed out that a lack of coordination among government departments has hindered the distribution of sanitary napkins, leaving women from Dalit, tribal, and backward communities without access to this essential resource. Juli emphasised that the shortage of sanitary napkins at schools and Anganwadi centres is a major issue, with many places not receiving the supplies intended for the scheme.
The ‘Udaan’ scheme, which was initiated by the previous Congress government, aimed to provide free sanitary napkins to women, especially in rural areas. However, Juli alleged that since the BJP government took power, the scheme has been neglected, with no serious effort made to address the distribution problems.
The LOP criticised Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma for weak leadership, stating that public welfare schemes, including the ‘Udaan’ scheme, were being ruined under his watch. Juli suggested that the failure to provide sanitary napkins was part of a deliberate conspiracy to undermine the initiative, and demanded that the Chief Minister take immediate action to resolve the issue. He warned that continued indifference would be detrimental to the welfare of women in the state.
Juli also recalled a significant incident earlier this year when a large cache of sanitary napkins, meant for distribution under the ‘Udaan’ scheme, was seized by the police in Jodhpur. These napkins were being sent to Delhi for black market sales, despite the state’s efforts to distribute them to women in need. The lack of accountability and action following this incident further fuelled the LOP’s accusations against the state government.
Julie urged the Chief Minister to urgently address the issues plaguing the ‘Udaan’ scheme, emphasising that continued neglect of such a crucial issue would be detrimental to the women of Rajasthan.
The ‘Udaan Yojana,’ launched on November 19, 2021, under the previous Congress government, was aimed at providing free sanitary napkins to women across the state. This scheme was part of the Kali Bai Bhil Mahila Sambal Yojana and was managed by the Women and Child Development Department. The initiative sought to improve the health and hygiene of poor women and girls, especially from Dalit, tribal, and backward communities. The Rajasthan Medical Service Corporation (RMSCL) supplied sanitary napkins to the department, which were then distributed free of cost through schools and Anganwadi centres.
Juli accused the current BJP government of neglecting the scheme after coming to power, similar to other welfare programs. He pointed out that due to the government’s apathy, sanitary napkins intended for poor women were diverted to other states for black marketing. He highlighted an incident in May, where police in Jodhpur seized 1.7 lakh sanitary napkins that were being sent to Delhi for illegal sale. Despite this issue making headlines, Julie alleged that the government failed to take corrective action, and the Chief Minister did not review or address the shortcomings of the Udaan scheme.
