Lok Sabha Question No. 2610 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Menstrual Hygiene
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: S. Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2610 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH MARCH, 2020

## MENSTRUAL HYGIENE

## 2610. MS. S. JOTHIMANI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the various programmes through which the Government is promoting menst hygiene in coordination with various Ministries;
- (b) whether adequate funds have been provided by the Government to the St ates/UTs for the promotion  of  menstrual  hygiene  based  on  the  proposals  received  from  the  States  in Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under the National Health Mission and if so, the de thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  bring a  bill  on  paid  menstrual  leave  to  women employees, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the measures being taken to remove the stigma related to menstruation in the society?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) : Government  is  working  to  improve  menstrual  hygiene  practices  through  various Ministries and details of the programme are as follows.
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is supporting the State/UTs in implementing Sche for  Promotion  of  Menstrual Hygiene  among  adolescent  girls . The  scheme encompasses increasing awareness among adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene, improving access to use  of  high  sanitary  napkins  by  adolescent  girls  and  ensuring  safe  disposal  of  s napkins in an environme ntally friendly manner .
- Ministry  of  Human  Resource  development  (MHRD)  through  the  Department  of  School Education and Literacy, implementing an integrated scheme for School Education namel Samagra Shiksha. Under Samgra Shiksha, State specific projects for varied interventions on menstrual  health  and  hygiene  are  sanctioned  by  the  Project  Approval  board  as  per Annual  Work  Plans  proposed  by  the  State/UT  concerned  which  include  instal lation  of sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators.

Contd.......

- Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  (WCD)  is  implementing  Scheme  for Adolescent Girls to improve the nutritional and health status of out of school ado girls of age 11 - 14 years and to upgrade their skills. The scheme is implemented inallthe districts forproviding  nutritional  support  to  the  adolescent  girls, besidei nformation  on health, menstrual hygiene and guidance on existing public services.
- Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has developed National  Guidelines  on  Menstrual  Hygiene  Management  (MHM) with  focus  on  ensuring provision of functional toilets and availability of safe water .
- Department  of  Pharmaceutical,  Ministry  of  Chemicals  and  Fertilizers under  the  Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaus adhi Pariyojna (PMBJP), Government provides Oxo - biodegradable sanitary napkins named Suvidha. The sanitary napkin is available for Rs. 2.50 per p Janaushadhi Kendras across India to ensure 'Swachhta, Swasthya and Suvidha.

(b):    The  States  are  provided funds  based  on  the  proposal  received  from  the  States  in  thei programme implementation plan under National Health Mission. The State/UT wise details a placed at  Annexure.

(c):    There is no such proposal at present.

- (d):    Following measures are take n to reduce menstruation related stigma:
- ASHAs across the country are trained and play a significant role in promotion of us distribution of the sanitary napkins
- Provision of incentives to ASHAs to hold monthly meeting with adolescents to discuss issu es related to menstrual hygiene.
- A range of IEC material has been developed to create awareness among adolescent gi about safe & hygienic menstrual health practices which includes audio, video and re materials for adolescent girls and job - aids for ASHAs and other field level functionaries for communicating with adolescent girls.

…………………

Fund allocation for Menstrual Hygiene Scheme under National Health Mission

| S.No.     | State                     | FY - 2019- 20 (Rs in lakh)   |
|-----------|---------------------------|------------------------------|
| 1         | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | NP                           |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh            | NP                           |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh         | NP                           |
| 4         | Assam                     | 288.62                       |
| 5         | Bihar                     | 957.6                        |
| 6         | Chandigarh                | NP                           |
| 7         | Chattisgarh               | NP                           |
| 8         | Dadra & Nagar Haveli      | NP                           |
| 9         | Daman & Diu               | NP                           |
| 10        | Delhi                     | 72.96                        |
| 11        | Goa                       | NP                           |
| 12        | Gujarat                   | NP                           |
| 13        | Haryana                   | NP                           |
| 14        | Himachal Pradesh          | 385.17                       |
| 15        | Jammu & Kashmir           | NP                           |
| 16        | Jharkhand                 | NP                           |
| 17        | Karnataka                 | NP                           |
| 18        | Kerala                    | 119.7                        |
| 19        | Lakshadweep               | NP                           |
| 20        | Madhya Pradesh            | 107.25                       |
| 21        | Maharashtra               | 100                          |
| 22        | Manipur                   | 116.2                        |
| 23        | Meghalaya                 | NP                           |
| 24        | Mizoram                   | NP                           |
| 25        | Nagaland                  | NP                           |
| 26        | Orissa                    | 382.23                       |
| 27        | Puducherry                | 36                           |
| 28        | Punjab                    | NP                           |
| 29        | Rajasthan                 | 3000                         |
| 30        | Sikkim                    | NP                           |
| 31        | Tamil Nadu                | NP                           |
| 32        | Telangana                 | NP                           |
| 33        | Tripura                   | 5.16                         |
| 34        | Uttar Pradesh             | NP                           |
| 35        | Uttarakhand               | 134.06                       |
| 36        | West Bengal               | 756.65                       |
| All India | All India                 | 6461.6                       |

NP - Not proposed