Menstrual hygiene policy  The Central Government has told the Supreme Court that it has prepared a framework for menstrual hygiene policy for school going girls which has been approved by the Union Health Ministry.

Draft menstrual hygiene policy prepared

Citing the decision of April 10, 2023, the Central Government said that the Union Ministry of Health and Department of Family Welfare prepared a draft of the menstrual hygiene policy for girl students in schools, which was approved by the Ministry on November 2, 2024.

There is a demand for free sanitary pads

The Supreme Court is hearing a PIL filed by Congress leader and social activist Jaya Thakur. In this petition, it has been demanded that the Central and State governments should provide free sanitary pads to girl students of classes 6 to 12 in schools.

Asked to arrange for separate toilet

Also, there should be separate toilets for girls in all government, government aided and private schools. In the affidavit filed in the related case, it is said that the purpose of this policy is to ensure unhindered freedom for girl students to participate in daily activities. Also, girls should have complete knowledge of menstrual hygiene.

Along with this, menstrual waste should be managed in an environmentally friendly manner. The central government has already told the court that all these targets have been achieved in places like Delhi, Goa and Pondicherry. The states of the Northeast are behind the national average of 98 percent, while only 89.2 percent of the girl students in Jammu and Kashmir have this facility.