BENGALURU: Shuchi, the Karnataka government’s programme to promote menstrual hygiene among schoolgirls, is dogged by logistics issues which are undermining its objectives.
While the programme envisages distribution of free sanitary napkins to adolescent girls, the enabling atmosphere is missing in most government and aided schools and hostels. No access to water, lack of soaps to wash hands, absence of paper bags or paper in toilets to wrap and dispose of napkins, and missing incinerators are some of the key problem areas.
Only 20% of government schools in Sidlaghatta taluk of Chikkaballapura have paper bags or paper available in toilets to wrap used napkins before junking them. While 90% of schools do not have soaps in toilets, 70% do not have access to water and hand-wash facilities. In these institutions, students are expected to carry buckets of water to toilets before using napkins. Menstrual hygiene-friendly toilets should be a priority,” he added.
Only 50% of schools are aware of simple pain-management measures. No school provides access to hot water bottles in times of pain or a separate place for girls to rest. Menstrual hygiene-friendly toilets in school is a requirement, be it government or private. Moreover, sustainable and reusable products need to be introduced, because sanitary napkins take hundreds of years to decompose, she added.
TIMES VIEW
Even today menstruating schoolgirls in Karnataka are forced to skip classes for want of toilets and water. The state government’s Shuchi initiative, meant to encourage these girls to attend school, has not had the desired impact. Addressing the associated concerns could make all the difference.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
To promote menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls, 13 packets of sanitary napkins, each containing 10 pads, will be provided every year to 32.5 lakh adolescent girls free of cost. A department of health and family welfare programme, it encourages girls to attend school during menstruation.