Lok Sabha Question No. 3802 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-25
Subject: Menstrual Hygiene Scheme
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3802 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 th  MARCH, 2022

## MENSTRUAL HYGIENE SCHEME

## 3802: SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB

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

- a)  Whether the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme is fulfilling its unique objectives of improving access to and use of high quality sanitary napkins by adolescent girls;
- b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT wise along with the funds provided to States/ UTs under National  Health  Mission  as  per  proposals  received  from  them  in  their  Programme Implementation  Plans  and  for  decentralized  procurement  of  sanitary  napkin  packs  for making provision to adolescent girls at subsidized rates;
- c) if not, the reasons therefore;
- d) whether any significant steps are being taken to address anomalies on implementation side and if so the details thereof and if not the reasons therefore; and
- e) the role of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) under the said scheme in Odisha?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

## (a) to (e)

The Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene among adolescent girls in the age group of 10-19 years is implemented by the Government since 2011. The major objectives of the scheme are:

- i) To increase awareness among adolescent girls on Menstrual Hygiene.
2. ii) To increase access to and use of high quality sanitary napkins by adolescent girls.
3. iii) To ensure safe disposal of sanitary napkins in an environmentally friendly manner.

Since  2015-16,  the  Menstrual  Hygiene  Scheme  is  supported  by  National  Health  Mission through State Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) route based on the proposals received from the States. States/UTs have decentralized procurement of sanitary napkins for ensuring quality  standards.  During  FY  2021-22  total  2.72  Cr  girls  were  provided  with  Sanitary napkins till the month of Feb'22 as per the data uploaded by the States/UTs in the HMIS.

The details of the funds provided to the States/UTs are placed at Annexure A

Capacity building of the health functionaries is also supported under NHM to sensitize them towards the scheme and for seamless implementation of the Scheme.

Communication  material  targeted  at  adolescent  girls,  their  gatekeepers,  influencers  and community  at  large  developed  by  MoHFW,  other  partner  ministries,  States,  Development Partners and NGOs is in use to create awareness on healthy practices during menstruation and to dispel the myths and misconception around it.

The role of the ASHAs under the Scheme is similar in all States/ UTs. ASHAs hold monthly meetings  with  the  adolescent  girls  in  their  area  to  talk  about  health  issues  including menstrual hygiene management. The sanitary napkin packs are provided to the adolescent girls at subsidized rates by the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs).

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## State-wise SPIP Approvals for Sanitary napkins procurement under NHM

| S. No.   | Name of the States/UTs   | SPIP approvals (in Rs Lakhs) for 2020-21   |
|----------|--------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Andaman &Nicobar Isl     | -                                          |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh           | 589.35                                     |
| 3        | Arunachal Pradesh        | -                                          |
| 4        | Assam                    | 165.34                                     |
| 5        | Bihar                    | 789.64                                     |
| 6        | Chandigarh               | -                                          |
| 7        | Chhattisgarh             | -                                          |
| 8        | Delhi                    | 182.4                                      |
| 9        | DNH&DD                   | -                                          |
| 10       | Goa                      | -                                          |
| 11       | Gujarat                  | -                                          |
| 12       | Haryana                  | -                                          |
| 13       | Himachal Pradesh         | 98                                         |
| 14       | Jammu &Kashmir           | 443.44                                     |
| 15       | Jharkhand                | -                                          |
| 16       | Karnataka                | -                                          |
| 17       | Kerala                   | 119.7                                      |
| 18       | Ladakh                   | -                                          |
| 19       | Lakshadweep              | 7.71                                       |
| 20       | Madhya Pradesh           | -                                          |
| 21       | Maharashtra              | 943.97                                     |
| 22       | Manipur                  | 114.04                                     |
| 23       | Meghalaya                | -                                          |
| 24       | Mizoram                  | -                                          |
| 25       | Nagaland                 | 5.69                                       |
| 26       | Odisha                   | 375.41                                     |
| 27       | Puducherry               | 36                                         |
| 28       | Punjab                   | 139.65                                     |
| 29       | Rajasthan                | 1,500.00                                   |
| 30       | Sikkim                   | -                                          |
| 31       | Tamil Nadu               | -                                          |
| 32       | Telangana                | -                                          |
| 33       | Tripura                  | 56                                         |
| 34       | Uttar Pradesh            | -                                          |
| 35       | Uttarakhand              | 261.57                                     |
| 36       | West Bengal              | 568.91                                     |
|          | Grand Total              | 6,396.82                                   |

- -Expenditure is inclusive of previous year's unspent balance, Central Grant and State share.
- -The above figures are as per available Financial Management Reports (FMRs) submitted by the States/UT