1 week Ago By TOI News Desk
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday notified the Supreme Court about establishing the " Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School Going Girls", which received approval from the Union health ministry. Following the top court's order from April 10, 2023, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare developed this policy, which was sanctioned by the relevant minister on November 2, 2024. The apex court was hearing a PIL submitted by Congress leader and social activist Jaya Thakur, requesting the Centre and states to provide complimentary sanitary pads to female students from Classes 6 to 12 and ensure dedicated female toilets in all government, government-aided and residential schools.
The Centre announced on July 8 that they were finalising a national policy regarding the distribution of menstrual hygiene products to adolescent female students . Through advocate Varun Thakur, the PIL petition filed by Thakur brought attention to the challenges encountered by underprivileged adolescent female students in schools. What does the policy aims "This policy aims to mainstream menstrual hygiene within the school system of the government to bolster change in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours, among schoolgirls, overcoming the barriers of low awareness that often restrict their freedom, mobility and participation in daily activities," the affidavit, filed in the pending matter, stated.
The policy facilitates coverage assessment through appropriate survey mechanisms by states and union territories, followed by addressing gaps to ensure students in government and aided schools have consistent access to menstrual hygiene products. The Centre said that the policy seeks to eliminate harmful social practices and encourage safe menstrual hygiene practices, whilst promoting eco-friendly menstrual waste management. Total percentage of toilet facilities for female students The Centre previously reported that over 97.
5 per cent of schools nationwide, including government, state-aided and private institutions, had separate toilet facilities for female students. The Centre reported construction of 16 lakh boys' toilets and 17.5 lakh girls' toilets in over 10 lakh government schools, plus 2.
5 lakh boys' toilets and 2.9 lakh girls' toilets in government-aided schools. According to official figures, Tamil Nadu reached 99.
7 per cent, Kerala 99.6 per cent, Sikkim, Gujarat, Punjab 99.5 per cent, Chhattisgarh 99.
6 per cent, Karnataka 98.7 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 98.6 per cent, Maharashtra 97.
8 per cent, Rajasthan 98 per cent, Bihar 98.5 per cent and Odisha 96.1 per cent, while West Bengal provided separate toilet facilities for female students in 99.
9 per cent schools, and Uttar Pradesh achieved 98.8 per cent coverage. States and union territories including Delhi, Goa and Puducherry achieved complete compliance with previous court orders, reaching 100 per cent targets.
Northeastern regions show lower figures The northeastern regions show lower figures compared to the national average of 98 per cent, according to the Centre's statement. They also noted that Jammu and Kashmir has implemented separate toilet facilities for female pupils in 89.2 per cent of schools.
The Centre had previously notified the court about their ongoing process of gathering essential information to establish a national policy for distributing menstrual hygiene products to female students in schools, following court orders dated April 10, 2023 and November 6, 2023. The Supreme Court instructed the Centre to develop a national framework for constructing toilets proportionate to female student numbers across all government-aided and residential schools nationwide..
