Srinagar, February 09 (Scoop News) –Government of India has started a scheme under NRHM to provide sanitary napkins to adolescent girls in the age group of 10 to 19 years at Rs 6/- for a pack of six napkins. The scheme under the name of Promotion of menstrual hygiene amongst adolescent girls at village level has been initiated in 10 districts of the State including Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara districts of Kashmir Division and Kathua, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts of Jammu Division. This was disclosed during a meeting held on the instructions of Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma, which was chaired by Additional Commissioner Kashmir, Abdul Majid Mir, which was attended by Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, Manzoor Ahmed Lone, Chief Medical Officers of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora.
The scheme has been initiated in order to increase awareness in adolescent girls about menstrual hygiene and in order to increase accessibility of high quality sanitary napkins at affordable cost, especially for girls of rural areas. During the meeting it was informed that the identified districts have already been supplied sanitary napkins. Kupwara has received 1.33 lakhs napkins out of which 38,807 have been sold to the adolescent girls through ASHAs, Baramulla has received 1.92 lakh napkins and 38,984 sold, whereas Bandipora has received 1.32 lakh napkins and 38, 807 sold till date.. It was informed that the scheme is likely to get a boost after reopening of the schools. DC Bandipora suggested that the teachers of Girl schools and female Panchs should also be actively involved, so that the distribution of napkins is monitored.