**Executive Summary**
The Central Government is implementing measures to improve menstrual hygiene (MH) through various ministries and departments. Key initiatives include the Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene, the MH Policy for School Going Girls, and efforts under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls. The University Grants Commission requested Higher Education Institutions to ensure provisions for sanitary facilities by 18.03.2025. The Ministry of Education issued an advisory dated 07.06.2024 to all the States/ UTs and the Heads of Autonomous bodies.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene (MH):**
* Implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
* Aims to improve MH among adolescent girls (10-19 years).
* Focuses on increasing awareness, enhancing access to sanitary napkins, and promoting safe disposal.
* **MH Policy for School Going Girls:**
* Formulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
* Streamlines access to low-cost MH products and gender-segregated toilets.
* Promotes MH education and prioritizes sensitization in schools.
* Oriented teachers and front-line workers (ANMs, ASHA, AWWs) are involved.
* **National Guidelines on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM):**
* Developed by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
* Aims to create awareness in rural areas.
* **Integrated Scheme 'Samagra Shiksha':**
* Implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy.
* Approves State-specific projects for menstrual health interventions, including sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators.
* **Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG):**
* Implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
* Component focuses on improving health and nutritional status.
* **Higher Education Institutions (HEIs):**
* University Grants Commission requested all HEIs to ensure sanitary facilities at conspicuous locations by 18.03.2025.
* **Ministry of Education Advisory:**
* Ministry of Education issued an advisory dated 07.06.2024 to all the States/ UTs and the Heads of Autonomous bodies.
* **Research and Development:**
* The Department of Health Research explores new methods of menstrual health management and sustainable alternatives to sanitary napkins.
* **National Health Mission (NHM):**
* Supports the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme through State Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) since 2015-16.
* States instructed to procure sanitary napkin packs through competitive bidding.
* **Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janausadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP):**
* Implemented by the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
* Provides Oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins ('Suvidha') at Rs. 1/- per pad through over 16000 Janaushidhi Kendras.
* Cumulative sales of Suvidha Napkins as on 30.11.2025 is 96.30 Crores.
**Impact Analysis**
**Adolescent Girls (10-19 years)**
* **Impact:** Improved access to sanitary napkins and increased awareness of menstrual hygiene, improved health and nutritional status.
* **Action Required:** Participate in awareness programs, utilize available sanitary facilities and products.
**Schools and Higher Educational Institutions**
* **Impact:** Required to improve sanitation facilities, educate students, and promote awareness.
* **Action Required:** HEIs to ensure sanitary facilities at conspicuous locations by 18.03.2025. Follow the Ministry of Education advisory issued 07.06.2024.
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Implement State Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) and procure sanitary napkins.
* **Action Required:** Procure sanitary napkin packs through competitive bidding.
**Teachers and Front-line Workers (ANMs, ASHA, AWWs)**
* **Impact:** Role in educating and raising awareness.
* **Action Required:** Orient appropriately and educate adolescent girls.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: Primary ministry responsible for implementing the Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene and formulating the MH Policy for School Going Girls.
Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene (MH): A scheme implemented to improve menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls (10-19 years) by increasing awareness, access to sanitary napkins, and promoting safe disposal practices.
National Health Mission (NHM): A national program that supports the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme through the State Programme Implementation Plan.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: An initiative under which the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation developed National Guidelines on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).
Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janausadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP): Implemented by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to improve health security for women through Janaushidhi Kendras providing affordable sanitary napkins.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Government takes appropriate measures to
improve menstrual hygiene practices
प्रव तथ: 17 DEC 2025 1:36PM by PIB Delhi
The Central Government has taken appropriate measures to improve menstrual hygiene practices through
the schemes and interventions of various Ministries and Departments. The Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare implements the Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene (MH) to improve it among
adolescent girls (10–19 years). The scheme focuses on increasing awareness on MH, enhancing access to
sanitary napkins, and promoting safe and environmentally friendly disposal practices. The Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare formulated the MH Policy for School Going Girls following detailed
deliberations with the line Ministries. It streamlines access to low-cost MH products, gender-segregated
toilets and safe disposal facilities, promotes MH education into the school curriculum, and prioritizes
sensitization and awareness in all schools. Further, teachers and Front-line Workers - Auxiliary Nurse
Midwives (FLW-ANMs), Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) and Anganwadi Workers (AWWs)
are oriented appropriately in the scheme with the budget provided for the same under Rashtriya Kishor
Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK). Further, one of the objectives of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)
components of ‘Misson Shakti’ is to generate awareness about MH and use of sanitary napkins.
The National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS 5) data shows that the percentage of women aged 15-24
years using hygienic methods during their menstrual cycles has risen from 57.6% in NFHS-4 to 77.3 % in
NFHS-5.
Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has developed National
Guidelines on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) for creating awareness on MHM in rural areas as
part of its overall interventions related to behaviour change on sanitation and hygiene aspect. Further,
Department of School Education and Literacy implements an integrated scheme namely 'Samagra Shiksha'
under which State specific projects for varied interventions on menstrual health and hygiene including
installation of sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators are approved. Ministry of Women and
Child Development implements the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) under which, one of the
components is improving their health and nutritional status and to motivate them to go back to formal
schooling. Ministry of Education has issued an advisory dated 07.06.2024 to all the States/ UTs and the
Heads of Autonomous bodies like Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Kendriya Vidyalaya
Sangathan & Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti. University Grants Commission vide advisory dated 18.03.2025
has requested all Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to ensure provisions for sanitary facility at
conspicuous locations in their institutions.
The, Department of Health Research under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) carries out
research and studies to look into the newer methods of managing menstrual health and other sustainable
alternatives to sanitary napkins for their safety, acceptability, affordability, efficacy and feasibility among
women in public health program setting.In addition, since 2015-16, the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme is supported by 'National Health Mission'
(NHM) through State Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) route based on the proposals received from
the States. The States have been instructed to take up procurement of sanitary napkin packs at prices
reached through competitive bidding. In the year 2021-22, approximately 34.92 lakh adolescent girls were
provided sanitary napkin pack every month as per 'Health Management Information System' (HMIS) data.
The Government has also taken initiatives to improve the accessibility of sanitary napkins and good
quality medicines at affordable price. The Department of Pharmaceuticals under Ministry of Chemicals
and Fertilizers implements the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janausadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP), which is an
important step in ensuring the health security for women. Under the project, over 16000 Janaushidhi
Kendras have been set up across the country that provide Oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins named
'Suvidha' at Rs. 1/- per pad only. These sanitary napkins are also environmental friendly, as these pads are
made with Oxo-biodegradable material complying with ASTM D- 6954 (biodegradability test) standards.
The cumulative sales of Suvidha Napkins as on 30.11.2025 is 96.30 Crores.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri
Thakur in Rajya Sabha in reply to a question today
*****
SS
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