State to roll out scheme to provide sanitary napkins at subsidised rate to members of self-help groups

Rural Development Minister Girish Mahajan informed the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Friday that the state government will soon roll out a scheme to provide sanitary napkins to girls and women from self-help groups (SHGs) at a subsidised rate and the government is planning to fix the price of eight napkins at Rs 1 for girl students.

Mahajan was responding to a question raised by the BJP MLA Namita Mundada during the Question Hour, when she asked about the reason behind discontinuation of a programme – Asmita scheme – to provide a packet of eight menstrual pads at Rs 5 to female students in rural areas.

While she sought the reason behind the discontinuation, Mundada demanded that the government restart the scheme, considering the need to provide it to girls and women in rural areas.

Mahajan also informed the House that an outlay of Rs 100 crore has been made in the state budget 2023-24, and the government is planning to reduce the price of eight napkins to Re 1. “We are thinking of expanding this scheme in urban areas too and a decision on the same will be taken in a month’s time,” said Mahajan.