Guj polls: 'Cong will provide free sanitary pads to girl students'

Vadodara, PTI: The Congress will provide sanitary napkins to girl students in Gujarat free of cost by abolishing GST if voted to power, All India Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev announced on Wednesday.

"Imposition of 12 percent GST on sanitary napkins is a big shocker for poor girls and women. The Modi government did not slash the tax (on sanitary napkins) despite demands raised by various NGOs and women's group though it reduced the tax on other items," Dev said while addressing reporters.

The campaigning for the first phase of polls, slated for December 9, will end today.

"At one end, the government is promoting healthier menstrual hygiene practices among girls and women while on the other hand they are increasing the cost of sanitary napkins," said Dev, who represents Silchar seat in Assam.

She said the imposition of 12 percent GST on sanitary pads is a "regressive move in the menstrual health discourse", which will take a toll on health of poor girls and women who lack the access to sanitary napkins.

Dev sought to link the "rising girls school dropout ratio in Gujarat" with costlier sanitary pads.

"I am afraid that higher price (of sanitary pads) on account of GST might push girls back to adopting unhygienic menstrual practices," the Congress leader said.

Dev also attacked Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani for "not filling up" posts of women in the state police department.

Dev also claimed that the Gujarat Police have been refusing to register complaints of rape sought to be lodged by affected women.

"Congress will set up a committee in each district of Gujarat to extend help to the victims of rape," she said.

Speaking after Dev, Congress national spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi termed as an "eyewash" the "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" campaign.

Chaturvedi accused the prime minister of "remaining silent" on the Naliya gangrape issue while addressing public rallies in the poll-bound state.