On April 1, the Central government informed the Court that it is for the states to implement the existing policies.
The submission was made in a common affidavit filed by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Jal Shakti in response to a plea seeking free sanitary napkins for adolescent girls in every school as well as separate girls’ washrooms in all government, aided and residential schools.
The plea filed through Advocate Varinder Kumar Sharma states that inadequate menstrual hygiene management options are a major barrier to education, with many girls dropping out of school due to lack of access to sanitation facilities, menstrual products and the stigma associated with menstruation.
The difficulties these girls face have been compounded by the fact that several educational institutions lack basic toilet facilities, the plea also said.
Source: Barandbench
