Central Government's Initiatives to Enhance Menstrual Hygiene in India
Government Efforts to Promote Menstrual Hygiene
New Delhi: The Central government is actively working to enhance menstrual hygiene practices through various schemes and initiatives, as stated by Savitri Thakur, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, during a session in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The Union health ministry has launched the Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene aimed at adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 years. This initiative emphasizes raising awareness about menstrual hygiene, ensuring access to sanitary products, and promoting safe disposal methods, Thakur mentioned in her written response to a query.
A menstrual hygiene policy specifically for school-going girls has been developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare after extensive discussions with relevant ministries.
This policy aims to facilitate access to affordable menstrual hygiene products, establish gender-segregated toilets, and ensure safe disposal options. It also promotes menstrual hygiene education within school curricula and prioritizes awareness and sensitization in educational institutions, according to Thakur's statement.
Teachers and frontline health workers, including auxiliary nurse midwives and accredited social health activists, are being trained under this scheme, which is funded through the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram.
Additionally, one of the goals of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative under Mission Shakti is to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene and the use of sanitary napkins, she added.
Data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) indicates a significant increase in the percentage of women aged 15-24 using hygienic methods during their menstrual cycles, rising from 57.6% in NFHS-4 to 77.3% in NFHS-5.
The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has also established National Guidelines on Menstrual Hygiene Management as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, aimed at promoting awareness of menstrual hygiene practices in rural areas.
The Department of School Education and Literacy is implementing an integrated scheme called Samagra Shiksha, which includes state-specific projects for various interventions, such as the installation of sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators.
On June 7, 2024, the Ministry of Education issued an advisory to all states and Union Territories, as well as heads of autonomous bodies like the Central Board of Secondary Education, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Thakur noted.
The University Grants Commission, in an advisory dated March 18, 2025, urged all higher educational institutions to ensure the availability of sanitary facilities in prominent locations within their campuses.
The Department of Health Research under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is conducting studies to explore new methods for managing menstrual health and sustainable alternatives to traditional sanitary napkins.
Since the 2015-16 fiscal year, the menstrual hygiene scheme has been supported by the National Health Mission through the State Programme Implementation Plan, based on proposals from various states.
States have been directed to procure sanitary napkin packs at prices determined through competitive bidding.
In the fiscal year 2021-22, approximately 34.92 lakh adolescent girls received sanitary napkin packs monthly, as reported by the Health Management Information System.
The government has also initiated efforts to enhance the availability of sanitary napkins and quality medicines at affordable prices, Thakur stated in her written reply.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janausadhi Pariyojana, which has established over 16,000 Janaushidhi Kendras to provide oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins branded as 'Suvidha' at just Rs 1 per pad.
As of November 30, 2025, the total sales of Suvidha Napkins reached Rs 96.30 crore, according to the reply.