With only 12% women in villages using sanitary napkins, UP to have ‘padman’ in each panchayat – The UP government has launched a new scheme, ‘ODF+’, under which each village panchayat will employ its own ‘padman’ who will procure sanitary napkins from manufacturing units and supply them to anganwadi centres, from where they will be given to local women.
According to the panchayati raj department, around 88% of women in rural UP do not use sanitary pads. “The figures available with us suggest that only 12% of girls and women in villages use sanitary napkins, while the remaining population relies on cloth and other means during menstruation,” said Bijnor district panchayati raj officer Manish Kumar.

TOI had last month reported that 62% of young women in the country in the age group of 15 to 24 years still use cloth for menstrual protection. “A large percentage of women in villages are completely unaware about menstrual hygiene. Through this scheme, the state government wants to spread awareness among them about the benefits of sanitary pads,” said Akashdeep, director of Swachh Bharat Mission in UP panchayati raj department.
“Majority of women use cloth and other unhygienic means during menstruation which puts them at a greater risk of infection. While one reason behind this is ignorance, the other major factor is the high cost of sanitary napkins. Under the scheme, pads manufactured in the state will be provided to women at a subsidized rate,” said Manish Kumar.
For now, Asha workers in all eight ODF districts have been asked to conduct a survey in villages to know the exact number of girls and women who need sanitary pads.
According to officials, the state government will be providing Rs 10 lakh for each sanitary pad making machine which will be acquired from Udaipur, Rajasthan. “Through this initiative, local women will also get employment,” said an official.

Source: Times of India: UP to have ‘padman’ in each panchayat