India has taken a significant step towards promoting female hygiene by introducing a new policy focused on menstrual hygiene for school girls. The government recently informed the Supreme Court about the implementation of the “Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School Going Girls,” which has been endorsed by the Union health ministry. This policy is designed to enhance menstrual hygiene practices and ensure access to sanitary products for female students attending government schools nationwide.

The initiative stemmed from a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Congress leader and social activist Jaya Thakur, urging the government to provide free sanitary pads to girls in Classes 6 to 12 and establish female-friendly toilets in all government, government-aided, and residential schools. Following a court order from April 10, 2023, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare developed this policy, which was officially approved on November 2, 2024.

The policy aims to integrate menstrual hygiene into the school system to drive positive changes in the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of schoolgirls. By addressing the prevalent lack of awareness that hinders their freedom and participation in daily activities, the policy seeks to break down barriers and empower young girls. It also includes mechanisms for assessing coverage gaps and ensuring consistent availability of menstrual hygiene products in government and aided schools.

Furthermore, the policy targets the eradication of harmful social norms related to menstruation while promoting safe menstrual hygiene practices and advocating for eco-friendly menstrual waste management. The government’s efforts in this regard have already resulted in over 97.5% of schools nationwide, including government, state-aided, and private institutions, having separate toilet facilities for female students.

States like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Sikkim, Gujarat, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Odisha have made significant strides in providing separate toilet facilities for female students, with percentages ranging from 96.1% to 99.7%. However, certain regions, especially in the northeastern part of the country, exhibit lower compliance rates, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to ensure universal access to adequate sanitation facilities.

The Supreme Court’s directives have played a pivotal role in driving the formulation of this policy, emphasizing the importance of establishing a national framework for constructing toilets proportionate to the number of female students in government-aided and residential schools across India. The government’s commitment to menstrual hygiene reflects a broader societal shift towards prioritizing women’s health and well-being, setting a positive precedent for future initiatives aimed at improving female hygiene practices in educational settings.