The Andhra Pradesh government has started to provide free sanitary napkins to girls studying from class VII to Intermediate second year in government schools and junior colleges. The free distribution of sanitary napkins to schoolgirls was launched on 8 March to mark the International Women’s Day. The government seeks to end all taboos concerning the health of the girl child in the state, thereby resulting in the improvement of collective standards of health.
Quality sanitary napkins will be made available at every YSR Cheyutha store across the state, at affordable prices. A lady teacher in every school/college will be tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the storage and distribution processes. She will also be responsible for educating the students about methods of safe disposal of the used napkins.
The government has said that cervical cancer, reproductive tract infections, Hepatitis B infection, various types of yeast infections and urinary tract infections are just a few complications that the lack of access to quality sanitary napkins could expose girls to. The government intends to end the dearth of such basic necessities and awareness pertaining to the same among the economically backward and other sections of the society.
“The distribution of sanitary napkins will start on July 1. Every month, 10 napkins will be supplied to each girl. A total of 120 sanitary napkins will be provided to each girl per year. The government will spend Rs 41.4 crore on implementation of the scheme per annum,’’ an official release said.