Health: The High Court of Karnataka has directed the state government to implement the Shuchi scheme—a menstrual hygiene project—and provide sanitary napkins to 17 lakh school-going adolescent girls during FY 2021-22. It stressed that a shortage of hygiene products should not prevent girls from attending school on menstruating days.
The Shuchi Scheme covers adolescent girls in the age group of 10 to 19 years. Launched in 2013, Shuchi was a centrally-sponsored scheme until the Centre asked the states to take it over in 2015. The main objective of the scheme is to improve the nutrition, health, and development status of adolescent girls.
“The plan of action under Shuchi Scheme shall be implemented by the state for adolescent girls between the age group of 10-19 years, as the same is an aid to the empowerment of such adolescent girls particularly residing in rural and remote places. They ought not to miss attendance in the school on certain days of the month on account of lack of effective hygiene products being available to them on certain days of the month,” said the bench.
Observing the importance of separate toilets in enhancing health and privacy of girl students, the bench also asked the state government to build separate toilets for girls at schools. “It would ensure full attendance of the adolescent girls in the schools and their right to education would be fulfilled.”
In its response, the state government told the court that INR 47 crore has been budgeted for the procurement of these hygiene products this year.
Read this article on why awareness on menstrual health is not enough.
