Odisha govt to provide free sanitary napkins to girl students

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday launched a new scheme ‘Khushi’ to provide free sanitary napkins to girl students across the state.

The government will provide free sanitary napkin to girl students from class VI to XII in all the government and government-aided schools in the state.

A total 17 lakh girl students will get free sanitary napkins.

“In continuation of our pro-women initiative, I am happy to announce “KHUSHI” universal provisioning of free sanitary napkins to all 17 lakh girls in Government and Government aided schools from class 6th and 12th,” said the Chief Minister.

Patnaik also said that the government will expand social marketing of sanitary napkins for women and girls in the community at subsidised rates.

He said this step will go a long way in promoting health and hygiene among school going adolescent girls leading to higher retention in school and greater empowerment of women.