The government’s initiative to provide sanitary pads to women is a commendable effort towards ensuring menstrual hygiene for all. The objective is to ensure that women use sanitary pads during their menstrual cycles and avoid using unclean and unsafe alternatives like rags, sandbags, or ashes, which can lead to infections and other health hazards.
In addition to providing free or low-cost sanitary pads, the government has also taken steps to increase awareness among women about menstrual hygiene. Several programs have been initiated to educate women about the importance of using sanitary pads and the proper disposal of used sanitary products.
One such program is the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,’ or ‘Clean India Mission,’ which aims to promote cleanliness and hygiene among the population. Under this program, the government has established ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Volunteers’ who educate women on the proper use of sanitary pads and waste management.
The government has also taken measures to make sanitary pads more affordable by reducing the tax on them. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) on sanitary pads has been reduced from 12% to 0%, making them more affordable for women across the country.
Furthermore, the government has also initiated the ‘One Rupee Sanitary Pad Scheme’, which provides sanitary pads for just one rupee to women in rural areas. This scheme aims to provide easy access to sanitary pads for women who face financial difficulties and cannot afford to buy them regularly.
In conclusion, the Indian government’s efforts towards ensuring menstrual hygiene and access to sanitary pads for women are praiseworthy. The initiatives taken by the government have made sanitary pads more accessible, affordable, and have increased awareness about menstrual hygiene among women. However, more needs to be done to ensure that every woman in India has access to sanitary pads and is aware of the importance of maintaining menstrual hygiene.