More young women than ever before are using menstrual hygiene products in India
Efforts at the central level began in 2011 with a pilot scheme to distribute sanitary napkins priced at Rs 1 each called “Freedays” to rural adolescent girls in 107 districts in 17 states.
Synopsis
A major factor behind the upward shift, says Dr Rizvi, was giving states ownership of the menstrual health programme. “In 2014-15, we decentralised procurement (of products).
In its 2015 report on menstrual health in India titled “Spot On”, the nonprofit Dasra had some sobering statistics to share. About 71% of girls had no knowledge of menstruation before their first period, and over 200 million women were ignorant of safe menstrual hygiene practices. The National Family Health Survey 4 (NFHS 4) of 2015-16 had similar disquieting figures on menstrual hygiene among young women: less than 60% women aged 15-24 years
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