Scheme for free sanitary pads to women launched

Ludhiana, May 28

In order to instil confidence and empower girls/women by promoting safe menstrual health hygiene, Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma on Friday launched the state government’s ambitious ‘Udaan scheme’ in the district under which sanitary pads would be distributed free of cost to needy women and girls every month.

Participating in the virtual state-level program presided over by Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary on the occasion of International Menstrual Hygiene Day, the DC said nine sanitary pads would be delivered to each beneficiary per month through anganwadi workers.

He said school drop-out/out of school girls, young women not attending college, BPL women, homeless women, migratory women, and every needy woman who are not covered under any scheme would be covered under the programme.

The DC said the program would help to bring out of school/drop-out girls back in academics as it would boost their confidence in completing their daily chores during menstruation and ensure their personal development.

He said that Ludhiana has 2,487 anganwadi centres in the district and nearly 4,500 anganwadi workers and helpers who would be instrumental in making the programme a success.

He added that anganwadi workers and helpers would ensure the registration of the beneficiaries under the scheme to ensure sanitary pads can be delivered every month on time.

Meanwhile, to create social awareness about maintaining menstrual hygiene, Team FICCI FLO, Ludhiana, organised a mensural hygiene programme with Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), Ludhiana, under its “Eat, Heal, Pray” drive. They organised a talk on menstrual hygiene, facilitated the Covid warriors nurses and donated sanitary napkins to all gynaecology ward patients.

Dr Kavita Bhatti, Head, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, CMCH, talked about importance of menstrual hygiene and best practices to be followed. —TNS