Lok Sabha Question No. 118 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Hygienic Menstrual Practices
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Behanan Benny, Faizal P.P. Mohammed

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 118 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02/02/2024

## HYGIENIC MENSTRUALPRACTICES

## 118. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN: SHRI MOHAMMED FAIZALP.P:

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

- (a) whether the Government is implementing any measures/schemes to address the significant issue of girls dropping out of school upon reaching puberty, due to the lack of hygiene and infrastructure in schools in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the measures/steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has any plan to promote hygienic menstrual practices since 50 percent of women, as per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), use non-hygienic methods during menstruation, posing of various health risks/issues in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): Government of India is implementing the schemes/ interventions to improve menstrual hygiene practices through of various Ministries/ Departments.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare implements the 'Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene' under Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) to reach out all adolescents girls in the age group of 10-19 years. The 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. Awareness generation among adolescent girls in schools about safe and hygienic menstrual health practices are done through the existing service delivery and health promotion mechanisms in schools. Further, IEC/ BCC activities are carried out by the States/ UTs to create awareness among the adolescent girls and other stakeholders with the funds approved as per the proposals received in the Programme Implementation Plan (PIPs) of the respective State/ UT under National Health Mission. Capacity building of health functionaries is also supported under NHM to sensitize them towards the scheme and for seamless implementation of the Scheme. The Department of School Education and Literacy implements an integrated scheme namely 'Samagra Shiksha' under which State specific projects for varied interventions on menstrual health and hygiene including installation of sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators are sanctioned. Ministry of Woman and Child Development implements the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) under which, one of the component is improving their health and nutritional status and to motivate them to go back to formal schooling. Further, one of the objectives of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) components of 'Misson Shakti' is to generate awareness about menstrual hygiene and use of sanitary napkins. Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has developed National Guidelines on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) for creating awareness on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in rural areas as part of its overall interventions related to behaviour change on sanitation hygiene aspect. 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 9000 Janaushidhi Kendras have been set up across the country that provide 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 1524 years using hygienic method of protection during their menstrual period has increased from 57.6 % in NFHS 4 (2015-16) to 77.3 % in NFHS 5 (2019-21). Similarly, the usage of Sanitary Napkins has also increased from 42% to 64%.

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