When govt plays Padman

On March 8, Women's Day, the government announced it would make and sell inexpensive sanitary pads soon.

The pads come in packs of four and will be on sale at Janaushadhi stores from May 28 (Menstrual Hygiene Day).

Janaushadhi stores are few and far between, and only a few women will be able to benefit from the initiative. Bengaluru has just 18 Janaushadhi stores, with a big one at Victoria Hospital.

Union minister Ananth Kumar, with pharmaceuticals in his portfolio besides chemicals and fertilisers, announced the manufacture and sale of Suvidha oxo-biodegradable sanitary pads under the Pradhan Mantri
Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.

"Our plan is to reach out to women in India who still use unhygienic methods during menstruation because they can't afford sanitary napkins available in the market," Ananth Kumar told Metrolife.

The product is unlikely to hit general pharmacies in the near future. In sprawling cities such as Bengaluru, the time, effort and expense involved in travelling to a Janaushadhi store is too huge to make sense for a majority.

"In the first phase, we will make it available only at the Janaushadhi stores. We will later brainstorm and decide how to take it further," Ananth Kumar says. His ministry is asking the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to use Suvidha napkins in their health programmes.

Women's groups welcome the initiative. Kavitha Garla, founding trustee, World of Women, observes women still can't go out and buy pads openly.

Suvidha pads can change the lives of women living below the poverty line, she believes.

"We work at the grassroots level and women don't get any money from their husbands to buy pads. The men spend their money on liquor and cigarettes."

With just 12 per cent of India's 355 million menstruating women using sanitary pads, women's groups see a lot of value in the affordability factor.

"More and more women are going to use pads and this will help them lead a hygienic life," says Kavitha. She recommends the number of pads in a pack be increased to 10, "or enough to last a month."

City advantage

According to the National Family Health Survey 2015-16, about 58 per cent of women between 15 and 24 years use locally prepared napkins, sanitary napkins and tampons.

While about 78 per cent in urban areas uses hygienic methods of protection during the menstrual cycle, only 48 per cent in rural areas have access to clean sanitary pads.

Highlight quote

"Our plan is to reach out to women in India who still use unhygienic methods because they can't afford the sanitary napkins available in the market," Ananth Kumar told Metrolife.

"Our plan is to reach out to women in India who still use unhygienic methods because they can't afford the sanitary napkins available in the market," says  Ananth Kumar,  Union minister

City advantage

According to the National Family Health Survey 2015-16, about 58 per cent of women between 15 and 24 years use locally prepared napkins, sanitary napkins and tampons.

While about 78 per cent in urban areas uses hygienic methods of protection during the menstrual cycle, only 48 per cent in rural areas have access to clean sanitary pads.