Lok Sabha Question No. 4535 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: Availability of Hygiene Products at Airports
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4535

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  19th March 2026 )

## AVAILABILITY OF HYGIENE PRODUCTS AT AIRPORTS

4535.    SHRI GAURAV GOGOI Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has issued any guidelines or advisories to airport operators  including  the  Airports  Authority  of  India  (AAI)  and  private  airport concessionaires  regarding  the  mandatory  availability  of  menstrual  hygiene products at the airports of the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the number of airports where sanitary napkin vending machines and/or free menstrual  product  dispensers  are  currently  installed,  category-wise  including metro, non-metro, international and domestic;

(c)  whether the Government has conducted any assessment or audit regarding the functionality, maintenance,  pricing  and  accessibility  of  such  vending machines and disposal facilities and if so, the findings thereof; and

(d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  mandate  the  provision  of  free  or subsidised menstrual hygiene products at all airports of the country as part of passenger  amenities  and  gender-inclusive  infrastructure  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister  of  State  in  the  Ministry  of  CIVIL  AVIATION            (Shri  Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) & (b): The provision of menstrual hygiene facilities at airports is guided by broader  Government  policies  relating  to  sanitation,  public  health  and  genderinclusive infrastructure, which emphasize access to menstrual hygiene products, adequate sanitation and safe disposal mechanisms in public spaces. In line with these principles, airport operators, including AAI and private concessionaires, have been facilitating such facilities at airports.

Currently  the  facility  of  sanitary  napkin  vending  machines  and/or  menstrual hygiene product dispensing facilities have been installed at 73 airports owned and  operated  by  Airports  Authority  of  India  out  of  which  57  are  domestic airports,  16  are  international  airports.  In  addition,  menstrual  hygiene  products are  available  at  many  airports  through  vending  machines  (including  free  and subsidized dispensing) installed in female washrooms for passengers and staff, as well as through pharmaceutical outlets within terminal premises.

(c) & (d): Airport operators ensure the functionality, maintenance, pricing and accessibility  of  passenger  amenities, including  menstrual hygiene facilities, as part  of  their  overall  operational  and  service  obligations.  These  facilities  are maintained through routine inspections, housekeeping and facility management systems, as part of their regular operational process. Airport operators, including AAI and private concessionaires, are expected to continue improving the availability and  accessibility of such  facilities in  line  with  evolving passenger needs and service standards.

******