New Delhi: The national policy on distribution of menstrual hygiene products to adolescent school girls is at an advanced stage of formulation, the Center told the Supreme Court on Monday.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala took note of the submissions of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, and allowed her plea for grant of two more months for formulate policy.
The top court was hearing a petition by Congress leader and social activist Jaya Thakur seeking directions to the Center and states to provide free sanitary pads to girl students of classes 6-12 and ensure separate toilet facilities for women in all residential schools and subsidized by the government. .
Formulation of the national policy on the issue is at an advanced stage and a period of two more months may be given, the ASG said.
"We will hold this matter on the first Monday of the month of September," the court said.
The petition highlighted the difficulties that teenage girls from poor backgrounds face in schools.
The Center had earlier said that it was in the process of compiling all necessary material to form a national policy on distribution of menstrual hygiene products to school girls in terms of the April 10, 2023 and April 6 orders. November 2023.
The top court had directed the Center to lay down a national model for construction of toilets commensurate with the number of girl students in all residential and government-aided schools across the country.
While emphasizing the uniform procedure, he also asked the Union government about the policy it has formulated for distribution of sanitary pads to female students nationwide.
During an earlier hearing, the Center had informed the top court that a draft national policy for distribution of free sanitary pads to school girls had been formulated and sent to stakeholders for their comments.
On April 10, the apex court appointed secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) as nodal officer to coordinate with states and UTs and collect relevant data to formulate a national policy.
He noted that the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Jal Shakti have menstrual hygiene management plans.
The court also directed all states and UTs to submit their menstrual hygiene management strategies and plans being implemented with the help of funds provided by the Center or through their own resources to the Steering Group of the National Health Mission in a period of four weeks.
The top court said states and UTs will also direct the National Health Mission Steering Group on the appropriate ratio of female toilets for residential and non-residential schools in their respective territories.
It asked all states and UTs to also indicate the measures taken to provide low-cost sanitary pads and vending machines in schools and their proper disposal.
The plea maintains that adolescent girls from poor backgrounds between the ages of 11 and 18 face serious difficulties in receiving education, a constitutional right according to Article 21A of the Constitution.
"These are adolescent women who are not equipped or educated by their parents about menstruation and menstrual hygiene.
"The disadvantaged economic situation and illiteracy lead to a prevalence of unhygienic and unhealthy practices that have serious health consequences, increase stubbornness and lead to eventual school dropout," the petition says.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala took note of the submissions of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, and allowed her plea for grant of two more months for formulate policy.
The top court was hearing a petition by Congress leader and social activist Jaya Thakur seeking directions to the Center and states to provide free sanitary pads to girl students of classes 6-12 and ensure separate toilet facilities for women in all residential schools and subsidized by the government. .
Formulation of the national policy on the issue is at an advanced stage and a period of two more months may be given, the ASG said.
"We will hold this matter on the first Monday of the month of September," the court said.
The petition highlighted the difficulties that teenage girls from poor backgrounds face in schools.
The Center had earlier said that it was in the process of compiling all necessary material to form a national policy on distribution of menstrual hygiene products to school girls in terms of the April 10, 2023 and April 6 orders. November 2023.
The top court had directed the Center to lay down a national model for construction of toilets commensurate with the number of girl students in all residential and government-aided schools across the country.
While emphasizing the uniform procedure, he also asked the Union government about the policy it has formulated for distribution of sanitary pads to female students nationwide.
During an earlier hearing, the Center had informed the top court that a draft national policy for distribution of free sanitary pads to school girls had been formulated and sent to stakeholders for their comments.
On April 10, the apex court appointed secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) as nodal officer to coordinate with states and UTs and collect relevant data to formulate a national policy.
He noted that the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Jal Shakti have menstrual hygiene management plans.
The court also directed all states and UTs to submit their menstrual hygiene management strategies and plans being implemented with the help of funds provided by the Center or through their own resources to the Steering Group of the National Health Mission in a period of four weeks.
The top court said states and UTs will also direct the National Health Mission Steering Group on the appropriate ratio of female toilets for residential and non-residential schools in their respective territories.
It asked all states and UTs to also indicate the measures taken to provide low-cost sanitary pads and vending machines in schools and their proper disposal.
The plea maintains that adolescent girls from poor backgrounds between the ages of 11 and 18 face serious difficulties in receiving education, a constitutional right according to Article 21A of the Constitution.
"These are adolescent women who are not equipped or educated by their parents about menstruation and menstrual hygiene.
"The disadvantaged economic situation and illiteracy lead to a prevalence of unhygienic and unhealthy practices that have serious health consequences, increase stubbornness and lead to eventual school dropout," the petition says.
