The Supreme Court has issued comprehensive guidelines revolutionizing menstrual hygiene in schools nationwide. On Friday, it mandated free biodegradable sanitary pads for girls from grade 6 to 12 in all government and private institutions, responding to a crucial PIL.
Describing it as an inviolable right, the court stressed clean, private, and dignified spaces for students. Directives cover separate gender toilets with privacy guarantees and ramps or aids for the disabled.
Pads must be freely available in restrooms through dispensers or personnel, removing access barriers. Schools are to install ‘Menstrual Hygiene Management Corners’ with supplies, guides, and info on safe practices.
All states and union territories must file implementation reports within 90 days. The Union government is to develop a cohesive national framework.
Petitioner Jaya Thakur from Madhya Pradesh argued that period-related shortages force girls out of classrooms. The court probed states on their ongoing initiatives, pushing for better coordination.
Experts hail this as a game-changer against menstrual taboos and dropouts. With enforceable timelines, the order promises real change, ensuring no girl misses school due to her natural cycle.