Menstrual Hygiene | Supreme Court Directs Union Government To Frame National Policy On Free Sanitary Napkins & Safe Disposal Mechanisms In Schools.

The Supreme Court has directed the Union Government to frame a national policy on menstrual hygiene, which includes providing free sanitary napkins and safe disposal mechanisms in schools and colleges across India. The Court has stressed that menstrual hygiene is a fundamental issue of women’s reproductive health and called for measures to ensure that all women have access to safe and affordable sanitary products. The policy should also include a plan for the safe and environment-friendly disposal of menstrual waste.

The Court also directed the government to make menstrual hygiene part of the school curriculum to raise awareness among students. The decision comes after a public interest litigation was filed in 2015, highlighting the lack of access to sanitary products and poor menstrual hygiene management in schools and colleges.

The Court noted that menstruation is a natural process and the lack of menstrual hygiene is not only a matter of health and hygiene, but also a matter of dignity and gender equality. It further observed that despite the government’s efforts, there are still many girls and women who do not have access to safe and affordable sanitary products, and the lack of proper menstrual hygiene management adversely affects their education and health.

The Court directed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to consult with the National Commission for Women, Ministry of Women and Child Development, and other stakeholders to formulate the national policy on menstrual hygiene. The policy should be implemented within six months, the Court said.

The Court also directed all states and Union Territories to provide free sanitary napkins and disposal mechanisms in schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, and to create awareness about menstrual hygiene among students. The Court said that the states and UTs can seek financial assistance from the Centre for this purpose.

The Court’s decision has been widely welcomed by women’s rights activists, who have long been demanding access to free and safe sanitary products and better menstrual hygiene management in schools and colleges. They hope that the policy will help to end the stigma around menstruation and ensure that all women have access to menstrual hygiene products and facilities.

Written by Nidhi Bhadauriya, a 2^nd BA.LLB student from Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies

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