Lok Sabha Question No. 4074 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: Menstrual Protection
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 4074

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2023

## MENSTRUAL PROTECTION

## 4074.  SHRI  JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- ( a) whether the Government has taken note of women who are still using clothes or traditional modes for menstrual protection;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  Government  is  cognizant  of  the  fact  that  by  not  having  access  to adequate sanitary products women can experience major reproductive health issues; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  on  the  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the accessibility of sanitary products for women?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  to  (d):  The  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare   implements  the  Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene among adolescent girls in the age group of 10-19 years since 2011. The major objectives of the Scheme are to increase awareness among adolescent girls on Menstrual Hygiene, to increase access to and use of high quality sanitary napkins by adolescent girls and to ensure safe disposal of sanitary napkins in an environmentally friendly manner.

Further,  since  2015-16,  the  Menstrual  Hygiene  Scheme  is  supported  by  'National Health  Mission'  (NHM)  through  State  Programme Implementation  Plan  (PIP)  route based on the proposals received from the States. The States have been instructed to take up procurement of sanitary napkin packs at prices reached through competitive bidding. Currently, 26 States/ UTs  implement the scheme either with NHM budget or combined budget of NHM and the State. In the year 2021-22, approximately 34.92 lakh adolescent girls were provided sanitary napkin packs every month as per 'Health Management Information System' (HMIS) data.

Capacity building of 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  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare (MoH&FW), 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 Accredited Social Health Activists

(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 ASHAs.

The  Government  has  also  taken initiatives  to  improve  the  accessibility of sanitary napkins  and  good  quality medicines  at  affordable price.  The  Department  of Pharmaceuticals under Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers implements the Pradhan Mantri  Bharatiya  Janausadhi  Pariyojna  (PMBJP),  which  is  an  important  step  in ensuring the health security for women. Under the project, over 8800 Janaushidhi Kendras have been set up across the country that provide Oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins named 'Suvidha' at Rs. 1/- per pad only.

The positive results of the initiatives taken by the government are reflected in the report of National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS 5), which shows that percentage of women aged 15-24 years using hygienic method of protection during their menstrual period has increased from 58 % in NFHS 4 (2015-16) to 78 % in NFHS 5 (2019-21). Similarly, the usage of Sanitary Napkins has also increased from 42% to 64%.

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