NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court directed the central government to formulate a national policy aimed at providing free menstrual cups and menstrual hygiene to school girls.
The decision is from a bench comprising of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala. States and Union Territories should forward the details of the menstrual policies implemented with their funds to the Central Government. The details should be given to the Union Health Secretary within four weeks. The Center should formulate a unified policy after examining this.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Congress leader Dr. Jaya Thakur demanding free sanitary pads and better toilets for schoolgirls is what is being considered now. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati had told the court that a common policy can be formulated if the states share the details of the current policy.
States should inform
1. Number of toilets and other facilities in schools
2. Information on the supply of menstrual cups and napkins