Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Aug 11: Four years have elapsed since sanitary pads have been supplied to girl students of high school and PU which have remained suspended since then.

The pilot project of supplying menstrual cups to students in place of sanitary pads in colleges of two districts is also incomplete. So the financially poor girl students of rural areas are deprived of sanitary pads supplied by the state government's health department.

The Shuchi project was introduced in 2017 for adolescent girls studying in high school and degree colleges to convey the message of cleanliness and hygiene during menstruation. Though it was implemented properly for two years, after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic its supply has since stopped.

In the cabinet meeting that was held on August 19, 2021, the then minister for parliamentary affairs Madhuswamy said it has been decided to buy sanitary napkins to be distributed to the girl students under the Shuchi scheme at a cost of Rs 47 crore. However, in reality they were not supplied at all.

In July 2022, the health department decided to give menstrual cup for the first time in the country to girl students. It selected Chamarajanagar and Dakshina Kannada districts for the pilot project.

Menstrual cups were given to around 100 students of Kombettu PU college of Puttur. Their feedback is however awaited. It may take another four to five months according to Dr Rajesh B V, RCH officer of the district.