Karnataka Govt relaunches scheme to give free sanitary pads to 19 lakh school, college girls
PTI, Feb 28, 2024, 8:25 PM IST
After it was stalled for the last four years, Karnataka Government on Wednesday re-started the Shuchi scheme for menstrual hygiene by supplying sanitary napkins to around 19 lakh adolescent girls at the school and college levels.
According to officials, through the relaunched scheme, the Karnataka Health Department will provide free sanitary napkins to around 19 lakh girls (aged 10 to 18 years) in government and aided schools and colleges across the state. The health department will directly deliver sanitary pads to the schools which will be distributed to the girls by the heads. Each kit would have 10 sanitary napkins in a pack. Napkins required for one year will be given to the girl students. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said this scheme is important for the hygiene and health of girl students.
Earlier, the project was started by the previous Siddaramaiah-led state government. However, Rao said, he doesn’t know why such an important project was stopped by the later (BJP-led) government. ”In our Congress government, after I became the Health Minister, I had announced that the scheme would be revived,” he said.
While the Congress government has implemented Shakti and Gruha Lakshmi Scheme in favour of women, the Shuchi Yojana, which was started with a collective vision for girls’ health, cannot be ignored, he said. “We are providing free sanitary napkins to 19 lakh school and college girls at a cost of 47 crores. Girls from very poor families cannot not afford it,” he said. The Minister also emphasised that menstruation is a natural process and that there is no need for girls to be hesitant about this. There are some superstitions attached to it and it is important to get rid of them and create awareness about cleanliness and the use of sanitary napkins, he said.
Cleanliness and scientific management of menstruation are important for girls’ health, he added. “As an alternative to sanitary pads, we have implemented a pilot program in two districts to distribute menstrual cups under Shuchi Yojana. Menstrual cups are eco-friendly and the project has received a good response,” Rao said. The Health Minister also said that the health department will take up a program to create more awareness about the use of menstrual cups instead of sanitary pads.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Meat consignment: Legal action to be taken based on analysis report of species
Teachers above 50 years of age exempted from ‘excess teacher’ transfers: Karnataka HC
New gang in Mangaluru: “Order Gang” targets local merchants
Shirur Landslide: Eshwar Malpe and team joins search for missing truck driver and others
Manipal: Panic as Leopard chases dog inside residential compound
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
CM Shinde discusses Kolhapur flood situation with collector, issues directions
Meat consignment: Legal action to be taken based on analysis report of species
Mamata walks out of Niti Aayog meet, says she was stopped midway in her speech
Teachers above 50 years of age exempted from ‘excess teacher’ transfers: Karnataka HC
Writ of ‘Shivaji Fan Club’ runs in Maharashtra, that of ‘Aurangzeb Fan Club’ in Gujarat: Raut
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.