Sanitary napkin vending machines in 2 Una schools

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Una, April 21

The Una district administration has taken a unique initiative to provide sanitary napkins through vending machines in schools. Two vending machines were installed on Saturday in Santokhgarh and Taka government schools on an experiment basis. 

The idea is to provide sanitary napkins to girls in rural areas free of cost initially and then at nominal rates to encourage them against using traditional methods.

Una DC Vikas Labroo, who is the brain behind the scheme, said he got data regarding its use in the district. The data provided some startling facts that about 40 per cent girls in government schools were still using traditional methods.

There are about 18,000 girls in senior secondary schools out of which about 15,000 are using sanitary napkins. Out of these, just 4,000 girls are receiving these from Asha workers, 8,000 were buying them from the market.

Under the menstrual hygiene programme of the government, all adolescent girls in rural areas will be provided sanitary napkins at affordable rates. Asha health workers have been entrusted with the job. However, it is surprising that still about 40 per cent of the girls are using traditional methods that are unhygienic, the DC said.

He further said the administration had made provisions to install vending machines so that they could take it without any inhibition. The fund for the machines would be released by the District Red Cross Society, the Chintpurni Temple Trust and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.

The DC also said incinerators were also being installed for the disposal of napkins.

Simran, a teacher, who is involved in distribution of napkins in a government school, said more girls were being encouraged to use napkins. Vending machines installed in school toilets would promote its use, she said.

DC’s brainchild

• Two vending machines are installed in Santokhgarh and Taka govt schools
• Una DC Vikas Labroo is the brain behind the scheme 
• About 40 per cent girls in government schools are still using traditional methods.
• The fund for the machines would be released by the District Red Cross Society, the Chintpurni Temple Trust and Corporate Social Responsibility funds