Maharashtra SHGs will provide sanitary pads to school girls at subsidised rates, says Pankaja Munde

Mumbai: Maharashtra women and child development minister Pankaja Munde on Monday said that local Self Help Groups (SHGs) will provide sanitary pads to school girls at Rs 5 per pack. [caption id=“attachment_2735148” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Pankaja Munde. PTI[/caption] The move comes at a time when there are demands from various sections of the society to reduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) being levied on sanitary napkins. Munde said the work to provide napkins will be given to village women in self-help groups. Meanwhile, NCP and MNS leaders have raised this issue with Union and state finance ministry and demanded exemption of sanitary napkins from the GST. Munde said women and child development department has introduced ‘Asmita’, a scheme for school going girls in which they will be provided sanitary napkins inside their school premises. “Asmita means pride and we want girls to take care of themselves during their periods,” said Munde. She added that it was not possible for girls residing in villages to afford sanitary napkins. Munde said that not using sanitary napkins creates hygiene related issues and her department is working on to resolve the ignorance among women on the usage of the essential commodities. “Price of sanitary napkins available in the market is more than Rs 40 and it was a challenge before us to make it affordable. Our experience of using locally made sanitary napkins failed due to quality issues and hence we decided to subsidise them,” Munde said. “Women SHGs will procure it from the manufacturer which will be enlisted by the state government and we will provide a subsidy to the SHGs. “The bidding to shortlist and enlist manufacturer of sanitary napkins is under process. Once, it is finalised, SHGs will approach them to procure napkins. “The department has identified such SHGs that are working at the village level, have a sound financial position and can afford to procure and provide sanitary napkins to girls studying in standard 8 to 10,” she said. “We will ensure that the price does not go beyond Rs 4 to Rs 5,” Munde added. Meanwhile, Chitra Wagh, state president of women wing of NCP and Shalini Thackeray met state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and asked him to request Arun Jaitley, Union finance minister to exempt sanitary napkins from GST. Munde too has written a letter to Jaitley over the issue.