Menstrual Hygiene Scheme revived in 10 districts of State
Adolescent girls to get sanitary pads at subsidized rates of Rs 6 per pack.
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Srinagar, July 22 (RNA): Menstrual Hygiene Scheme under which sanitary napkins are distributed to rural adolescent girls of the age group of 10 to 19 years under Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) was launched in the State of J & K in the year 2012-13 in 10 districts namely Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Udhampur and Kathua of Jammu Division and Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara of Kashmir Division. However due to procurement issues the supplies could not be provided to districts since 2017.
The procurement of Sanitary Napkins was taken on war footing basis by Shri Bhupinder Kumar, Mission Director NHM and his team under guidance of Shri Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner to Govt., Health & Medical Education who completed the procurement process in a time bound manner after putting in lot of efforts through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pari Yojana (PMBJP) under Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India, (BPPI) and Sanitary Napkins have been supplied to districts for further distribution to blocks under Menstrual Hygiene Scheme.
It is pertinent to mention Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is supporting the Scheme, under which, funds are provided to State through National Health Mission for decentralized procurement of sanitary napkins for further distribution among rural adolescent girls at subsidized rates. The Sanitary Napkins (packet of 6) is to be provided to rural adolescent girls at a subsidized rate of Rs 6 per pack through ASHA, who is entitled for receiving an incentive @ Rs. 1 per pack sold and a free pack of napkins every month for her personal use.
Mission Director, NHM, J&K further informed that Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has been approached for extension of this scheme to rest of the 12 districts of the State. (RNA)