WCD: Cannot give sanitary pads for free

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has told the Delhi High Court that it has no role in providing menstrual hygiene products free of cost or at discounted rates to adolescent girls. The ministry was replying to a notice issued by the HC in July in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding the roll-back of the 12 per cent GST on sanitary pads and the availability of sanitary napkins and of education on menstrual hygiene to young girls. The notice was also sent to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the Delhi government.

"That the ministry of women and child development has no role in ensuring availability of menstrual hygiene products to adolescent girls in schools free of cost or at sub rates or allowing access to trained female school teachers/health counsellors in the school premises for imparting education about menstrual health (sic)," said the ministry in its reply filed on September 27.

It also said that under the Sabla Scheme, the ministry provides nutrition and non-nutrition support in 205 districts to adolescent girls between the age of 11 to 18 years.

Under the scheme, the ministry said that girls are provided nutritional support at Rs 5 per day per beneficiary for 300 days a year, apart from awareness and education on various health issues, including menstruation and reproductive and sexual health-related issues. In addition to that the ministry said that it also provides young girls with education and awareness on the importance of using sanitary napkins and maintaining good personal hygiene and sanitation.

On the other hand, the health ministry has also said that since health is a state subject, it provides states with budgetary support under the National Health Mission for the procurement of sanitary napkins. It added that under the scheme over two crore adolescent girls in the age group of 10 to 19 years have been benefited.

"The scheme was initiated in 107 districts in 17 states in the first phase and supply of sanitary napkins was carried out through central procurement. About two crore adolescent girls were benefited during the period from 2011 to December, 2015. Later on, in the Financial year 2014-15, this scheme was decentralised for procurement and distribution of sanitary napkins for expansion in all districts across the states," the health ministry said. "At present, 18 states are supported through the National Health Mission funds for supply of sanitary napkins. Few state are also implementing this scheme using state budgets."

The health ministry, in its reply, pointed at the Delhi government's scheme for sanitary napkins under which the Centre has already provided Rs 27 lakh for the 2017-18 financial year already.

MINISTRY TO HC

• It pointed at the high dropout rate of girls due to menstrual problems
   
• It demanded that the 12% GST on sanitary napkins be rolled back