launched two years ago by UPA president Sonia Gandhi, the Government’s much-hyped scheme for providing subsidised sanitary napkins to the adolescent girls in rural areas for menstrual hygiene is moving off the track.
Sources said while the 17 targeted States procured 193 million pieces (mpcs) in fiscal 2011-12 and 372 mpcs in 2012-13, they seemed to have suddenly grown indifferent to the scheme as not a single napkin has been purchased by the States even after six months. The scheme aimed to cover nearly 1.5 crore girls in the 10-19 age-bracket in 107 districts in 17 States where sanitary napkins were to be prvided to these girls for one-rupee.
Due to their financial condition, the girls had no option but to resort to unhygienic alternatives like unsanitised cloth, ashes and husk sand, which often leads to Reproductive Tract Infection (RTI). RTI is 70% more common among women who use these unhygienic alternatives during menstruation. Supply of sanitary napkins in 107 districts initially was being done by the Union Health Ministry.
However, the sudden decentralisation of the scheme has left the State clueless. “First the States procured the napkins in a huge number and now they seem to be unsure how to go about it. Moreover, beneficiaries are not much aware hence, there is not much demand from the beneficiaries. “Clearly, the stock has piled up within the blocks while fund meant for the scheme is in all likelihood might get diverted to for other purpose,” said the sources.
A sum of Rs 150 crore annually has been allocated for the scheme under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) which sells pack of six napkins for Rs 1 per piece to these girls. The scheme was initially launched across 110 districts comprised of a total 1091 blocks in 17 States. The supply in the remaining 45 districts was envisaged in a Self Help Group mode, who were to manufacture the napkins that are to be sold to adolescent girls.