Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 7: In a major step towards menstrual hygiene, the Karnataka Department of Health and Family Welfare has announced the expansion of its pilot project to supply menstrual cups to school and college students across the state.

According to the revised government order, a total of 10,38,912 menstrual cups will be provided at a cost exceeding Rs 61 crore through the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.

The decision is expected to reduce government spending on sanitary napkins by Rs 10 crore, as the state had previously spent Rs 71 crore annually to provide 2,35,74,084 sanitary napkins under the Shuchi scheme.

The revised order specifies that the department will continue supplying sanitary napkins for the remaining three months of the current academic year, while each beneficiary will receive one menstrual cup for the next academic year.

Highlighting the urgency of the move, reports in December 2025 noted that adolescent girls were missing school due to insufficient sanitary napkin supplies under the Shuchi kit. The matter was later raised in the state assembly during the winter session in Belagavi, where Minister Gundu Rao assured that steps would be taken to resolve the issue.

“Providing menstrual cups will ensure sustainable menstrual hygiene for students and reduce absenteeism in schools,” a department official said. “The move also allows the government to rationalise costs while offering a long-term solution,” the official added.

While the department had initially approved sanitary napkin supply for three months, the inclusion of menstrual cups marks a significant policy shift, promoting eco-friendly alternatives and improving the health and education of adolescent girls across Karnataka.