Ladakh to procure 18 lakh sanitary pads to promote menstrual hygiene

The senior officials of the Ladakh Administration recently held a crucial meeting with Lieutenant Governor Brigadier BD Mishra (retd), during which a range of pressing issues were discussed.

In an important meeting, the L-G discussed healthcare initiatives with officials from the Health and Medical Education Department, including Commissioner/Secretary Vasanthakumar N, Director of Health Services Tashi Thinles, and State Programme Officer Stanzin Gelex. A key focus of the discussion was the distribution of sanitary pads among adolescent girls in the UT, in line with the Central government’s policy of ensuring accessible and affordable menstrual hygiene products for all menstruating individuals. The L-G highlighted the need to procure biodegradable sanitary pads from self-help groups (SHGs) in Ladakh, aiming to empower local women and promote sustainable practices.

The procurement plan includes the purchase of approximately 18 lakh sanitary pads through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and from local SHGs. The L-G emphasised the importance of quality control, which would be overseen by the Health Department of Ladakh. He also discussed the logistics of distribution and disposal, stressing that used sanitary pads must be disposed of through environmentally responsible methods, such as incineration.

Vasanthakumar briefed the L-G on the department’s progress, outlining plans for the timely procurement of the pads and ensuring that high-quality products are made available to students. He also highlighted the challenges of distributing sanitary pads directly to students’ homes, noting that this method might lack transparency compared to distribution in schools under the supervision of female teachers. The L-G directed the department to carefully review this concern to ensure that the distribution process remains transparent and efficient.

Meanwhile, the Secretary for Rural Development and IT (RDD/IT), Shashanka Ala, briefed the L-G on several other ongoing projects. These included the delay in achieving 4G saturation across the UT, the upcoming Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the IT Department, LAHDC Leh and Siemens to enhance youth skills in Ladakh, as well as the construction of a winter-friendly community hall in Zanskar through the Public Works Department (PWD). Additionally, there was a request from local students for the establishment of digital libraries at public libraries in various regions of Ladakh.