Yesterday, the Apex Court of India has drected the Central Government to frame National Policy on menstrual hygiene for school-going girls in India. The bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice JB Pardiwala stated that the said policy must ensure low cost sanitary napkins and safe disposal mechanisms of sanitary napkins in schools.

While considering a petition seeking directions to the Union of India, the States, and the Union Territories to ensure, among other things, provisions for sanitary pads to girl children in class 6-12 and separate toilets for girls in all government, government aided schools, and residential schools The bench took into account the counter affidavit placed on record by the Union Government as per which three ministries of the Union, namely, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Jal Shakti, and Ministry of Education (MoE) dealt with the matter.

"States also have vital role to play. States should send the Union their menstrual hygiene policies within a period of 4 weeks. We are nominating the secretary of MoHFW as the nodal officer to facilitate communication of all ministries and states. States and UTs shall also indicate the ratio of girls in schools. All states and UTs shall ensure low cost sanitary napkins and safe disposal mechanisms. An updated status report shall be placed on record by Union Govt in 3 months." said the Bench.

Case Title: Jaya Thakur v GoI And Ors