JAIPUR: On the International Menstruation Day on Saturday, minister for women and child development Mamta Bhupesh said that Rajasthan is the first state in the country to distribute free sanitary napkins to women.
The minister took to social media and tweeted, “Rajasthan is the first state to take innovative initiative of distribution of free sanitary napkins under the UDAN scheme and to take sensitive decisions towards the health of half the population. On Menstrual Hygiene Day, contribute towards spreading correct information and awareness regarding menstrual health management to women and adolescent girls. Rajasthan government is working towards this by providing free sanitary napkins to all the mothers and sisters under the UDAN scheme.”
The minister on Wednesday had started a state-wide outreach campaign by launching a poster and video regarding myths around menstruation and how to ensure proper hygiene. Through the Udaan scheme of the state government aims to provide six free sanitary napkins every month to every adolescent and menstruating woman.
As a pilot project, the department is already distributing free sanitary napkins to 30 lakh women and is in the process of reaching out to1.25 crore women across the state within two months. Officials from the directorate of women empowerment said that awareness campaigns in the form of community meetings were held in all districts on Friday and Saturday.
Ramavatar Meena, director ICDS Rajasthan. said, “Anganwadi workers, ASHA sahyoginis, district officials, all came together and conducted meetings in different districts and villages to educate young women and teenage girls about menstrual health.”
