Lok Sabha Question No. 5646 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: Safe Menstrual Hygiene
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Baijayant Panda

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION 5646 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2025

## SAFE MENSTRUALHYGIENE

## 5646. SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA:

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

- (a) the total number of girls as per the last National Family Health Survey using safe menstrual hygiene products in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether the Government distributes free or subsidized sanitary napkins in rural areas of country; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof alongwith the rural areas covered in Odisha in 2024?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a): The details of the State/ UT wise National Family Health Survey 5 data on safe use of menstrual hygiene products for girls aged 15-19 years is placed at the Annexure .

(b): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare implements the 'Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene' aimed at promoting menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls aged 10-19 years. The scheme implementation promotes increased awareness among adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene, increased access to sanitary napkins by adolescent girls and promotion of safe disposal of sanitary napkins in an environmentally friendly manner. Under this scheme, packs of six sanitary napkins are provided to adolescent girls by ASHAs using the platforms of schools and community.

Additionally, under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), the government launched the 'Jan Aushadhi Suvidha' sanitary napkins, available at ₹1 per pad, to ensure affordable access to menstrual hygiene products.

(c): As per information received from the State of Odisha, it implements the "KHUSI" programme, providing sanitary napkins free of cost to 17.8 lakh school-going adolescent girls (Classes 6-12) in all government-aided schools. For the out-of-school adolescent girls (10-19 years), ASHAs distribute sanitary napkins at subsidized rates through social marketing under the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme of RKSK, ensuring access across both rural and urban areas to promote better menstrual hygiene.

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5646 for answer on 04.04.2025

Annexure

| Percentage (%) of Girls aged 15-19 years who use hygienic methods of protection during their menstrual period as per NFHS5, State/UT-wise   | Percentage (%) of Girls aged 15-19 years who use hygienic methods of protection during their menstrual period as per NFHS5, State/UT-wise   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| States/ UTs                                                                                                                                 | NFHS5                                                                                                                                       |
| Andaman &Nicobar Islands                                                                                                                    | NA                                                                                                                                          |
| Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                              | 89.1                                                                                                                                        |
| Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                                           | 92.1                                                                                                                                        |
| Assam                                                                                                                                       | 68.5                                                                                                                                        |
| Bihar                                                                                                                                       | 59.3                                                                                                                                        |
| Chandigarh                                                                                                                                  | NA                                                                                                                                          |
| Chhattisgarh                                                                                                                                | 70.7                                                                                                                                        |
| Delhi                                                                                                                                       | 97.6                                                                                                                                        |
| DNH& DD                                                                                                                                     | NA                                                                                                                                          |
| Goa                                                                                                                                         | 98.3                                                                                                                                        |
| Gujarat                                                                                                                                     | 66.2                                                                                                                                        |
| Haryana                                                                                                                                     | 93.1                                                                                                                                        |
| Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                            | 92.7                                                                                                                                        |
| J&K                                                                                                                                         | 73.8                                                                                                                                        |
| Jharkhand                                                                                                                                   | 77.1                                                                                                                                        |
| Karnataka                                                                                                                                   | 57.7                                                                                                                                        |
| Kerala                                                                                                                                      | 93.6                                                                                                                                        |
| Ladakh                                                                                                                                      | NA                                                                                                                                          |
| Lakshwadeep                                                                                                                                 | NA                                                                                                                                          |
| Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                              | 60.5                                                                                                                                        |
| Maharashtra                                                                                                                                 | 85.7                                                                                                                                        |
| Manipur                                                                                                                                     | 84.7                                                                                                                                        |
| Meghalaya                                                                                                                                   | 65                                                                                                                                          |
| Mizoram                                                                                                                                     | 89.8                                                                                                                                        |
| Nagaland                                                                                                                                    | 78.2                                                                                                                                        |
| Puducherry                                                                                                                                  | NA                                                                                                                                          |
| Punjab                                                                                                                                      | 94                                                                                                                                          |
| Odisha                                                                                                                                      | 85.5                                                                                                                                        |
| Rajasthan                                                                                                                                   | 85.8                                                                                                                                        |
| Sikkim                                                                                                                                      | 87.5                                                                                                                                        |
| Tamilnadu                                                                                                                                   | 98.7                                                                                                                                        |
| Telangana                                                                                                                                   | 95                                                                                                                                          |
| Tripura                                                                                                                                     | 73.5                                                                                                                                        |
| Uttarakhand                                                                                                                                 | 91.5                                                                                                                                        |
| Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                               | 70.5                                                                                                                                        |
| West Bengal                                                                                                                                 | 86.6                                                                                                                                        |