Periods, with dignity: SC makes menstrual health a right

THE Supreme Court’s recognition of menstrual health as a fundamental right under Article 21 is a long-overdue affirmation that dignity, health and equality are indivisible. By directing states to provide free, biodegradable sanitary pads in schools and to set up menstrual hygiene corners stocked with pads and innerwear, the court has pushed menstrual health out of the shadows of stigma and into the realm of enforceable rights. Menstruation has long been treated as a private inconvenience. The consequences are stark: poor access to hygiene products, unsafe alternatives, infections, absenteeism and dropouts among adolescent girls, particularly in government schools. By framing menstrual health as intrinsic to the right to life and personal dignity, the court has reframed the debate.

The emphasis on schools is critical. Adolescence is when menstrual stigma bites hardest and when the absence of facilities can derail education. Hygiene corners institutionalise privacy and preparedness, while free access to sanitary napkins recognises that affordability should not determine attendance. The insistence on biodegradable products also aligns public health with environmental responsibility.

Yet, the SC ruling’s impact will depend on execution. Many states already run pad distribution schemes, but coverage is uneven and quality inconsistent. Budgetary allocations, supply-chain reliability and monitoring mechanisms will determine whether the directive translates into real change. Teacher sensitisation, counsellor support and curriculum integration are equally vital to dismantle taboos and ensure girls are not shamed for a biological reality. Menstrual health also extends beyond schools. Migrant workers, homeless women and those in institutions and public places remain vulnerable. The judgment opens the door to a broader policy framework, across all life stages. The task is to ensure that the promise on this everyday reality of women is delivered with dignity.