The Center on Monday informed the Supreme Court about the framing of the “Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School-Going Girls” approved by the Union Health Ministry.

Citing a top court order dated April 10, 2023, the Center said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has framed the policy on menstrual hygiene of girl school children, which was approved by the concerned minister on November 2, 2024.

The apex court was hearing a PIL filed by Congress leader and social activist Jaya Thakur seeking directions to the Center and states to provide free sanitary pads to girl students between Classes 6 and 12 and provide separate women’s toilet facilities in all government, government-aided and government institutions. boarding schools.

“This policy aims to promote menstrual hygiene within the government’s school system to support change in knowledge, attitudes and behavior among female students, overcoming low awareness barriers that often restrict their freedom, mobility and participation in daily activities.” It was stated in the declaration submitted in the pending file.

He said the policy enables coverage, requires appropriate level of research mechanisms that can be undertaken by states and union territories and then evaluation through gap filling, so that students in government and aided schools have regular access to menstrual hygiene products.

The center said the policy aims to eliminate harmful social norms and promote safe menstrual hygiene practices, as well as ensure environmentally friendly management of menstrual waste.

A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Pankaj Mithal is scheduled to hear the PIL on October 12.

The Center had earlier informed the high court that more than 97.5 per cent of schools in the country, including government, state-aided and private schools, provide separate toilet facilities for girl students.

It was also stated that states and union territories such as Delhi, Goa and Puducherry have achieved 100 per cent targets and are complying with previous court orders.

The court also stated that 16 lakh toilets for boys and 17.5 lakh toilets for girls have been constructed in more than 10 lakh government schools, apart from 2.5 lakh toilets for boys and 2.9 lakh toilets for girls in government-aided schools.

The Center stated that 99.9 per cent schools in West Bengal provide separate toilet facilities for girl students, while 98.8 per cent schools in Uttar Pradesh have such separate toilets.

According to the Centre, the figures are 99.7 per cent in Tamil Nadu, 99.6 per cent in Kerala, 99.5 per cent in Sikkim, Gujarat, Punjab, 99.6 per cent in Chhattisgarh, 98.7 per cent in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh It was 98.6 percent in . 97.8 percent in Maharashtra, 98 percent in Rajasthan, 98.5 percent in Bihar and 96.1 percent in Odisha.

Northeastern states lag behind the national average of 98 per cent, the Center said, adding that even Jammu and Kashmir provides separate toilet facilities for girl students in 89.2 per cent schools.

On July 8, the Center said it was at an advanced stage of formulation of the national policy on distribution of menstrual hygiene products to adolescent female students.

Thakur’s PIL plea, filed through advocate Varun Thakur, highlighted the challenges faced by teenage girl students from underprivileged backgrounds in schools.

The Center had earlier informed the court that it was in the process of collecting all necessary materials to formulate a national policy on the distribution of menstrual hygiene products to female school students in accordance with the court’s orders dated April 10, 2023 and November 6, 2023.

The apex court directed the Center to create a national model for construction of toilets commensurate with the number of girl students in all government-aided and residential schools in the country.

While a uniform procedure was emphasized, the Center was also asked about the national policy it had formulated on the distribution of sanitary napkins to female school students.

On April 10, the court appointed the secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as the principal officer to coordinate with the States and union territories and collect relevant data to formulate a national policy.