The Karnataka government on 28th February re-initiated the Shuchi scheme for menstrual hygiene by providing sanitary napkins to around 19 lakh school and college-level adolescent girls. This scheme was re-launched after being stalled for four years.

According to the officials, through this re-launched scheme, the Karnataka Health Department will disseminate free sanitary napkins to around 19 lakh girls (between the age group of 10 to 18 years) in government and aided schools as well as in colleges across the state. The health department will directly provide sanitary pads to the schools, which will be distributed to female students. Each kit would contain 10 sanitary pads in a pack. The sanitary pads that are required for one year will be provided to female students.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that this scheme is essential for the hygiene and health of female students, and he also expressed that earlier, the project was initiated by the Siddaramaiah-led government, and he doesn't know why such an important project was stopped by the later (BJP-led) government.

The Health Minister said that in the Congress government, after he became the health minister, he announced that the scheme would be revived. He further said while the Congress government has enforced Shakti and Gruha Lakshmi in favor of women, the Shuchi Yojana, which was initiated with a collective vision for girls’ health, cannot be overlooked. They are delivering free sanitary napkins to 19 lakh school and college girls for 47 crores, as girls from poor families cannot pay for them.

The Health Minister also underscored that menstruation is a natural process and that there is no need for girls to be hesitant about this. He indicated that some superstitions are attached to menstruation, and it is important to get rid of them and create awareness about cleanliness and sanitary napkins.

He added that cleanliness and scientific management of menstruation are important for girls’ health. As a recourse to sanitary pads, they have implemented a pilot program in two districts to distribute menstrual cups under the Shuchi Yojana.  He said that Menstrual cups are eco-friendly and the project has received a good response.

The Health Minister also expressed that the health department will take up a program to develop more awareness about the use of menstrual cups instead of sanitary pads.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina)