6 months ago
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As portion of efforts to beforehand environmentally sustainable and cost-effective menstrual hygiene practices, the Karnataka authorities has decided to grow the organisation of menstrual cups crossed the State from the adjacent world year. This follows a aviator programme implemented successful 2 districts.
The State authorities past week granted revised administrative support for the procurement and organisation of sanitary napkins and menstrual cups to the targeted 19.64 lakh teen girls (from people 6 to II PU) nether the Shuchi programme for 2025–26.
As per the authorities order, menstrual cups volition beryllium introduced lone for students from classes 9 to 12, portion sanitary napkins volition proceed to beryllium provided to students from classes 6 to 8, ensuring uninterrupted entree during the modulation period. Even among older students, the usage of menstrual cups volition beryllium wholly voluntary, with beneficiaries escaped to proceed opting for sanitary napkins.
Procurement
The procurement volition beryllium carried retired done the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) successful accordance with the Karnataka Transparency successful Public Procurements (KTPP) Act and rules. For 2025–26, the authorities has approved the acquisition of 1.79 crore units of sanitary napkins (one portion comprising 10 pads) astatine an estimated portion outgo of ₹30.47 and 10.38 lakh menstrual cups astatine an estimated portion outgo of ₹65.34. The full approved expenditure is ₹61.35 crore.
Menstrual cups were earlier introduced connected a aviator ground successful Chamarajanagar and Dakshina Kannada districts, nether which astir 15,000 cups were distributed. The aviator was aimed astatine assessing acceptability, comfort, usage practices and consciousness levels among teen girls. Officials said feedback from this workout informed the determination to grow the programme cautiously.
Distribution model
Under the revised organisation exemplary for classes 9 and 10 and first- and second-year pre-university students, beneficiaries volition person six units of sanitary napkins and 1 menstrual cupful for six months, alternatively of 12 units of napkins. The authorities estimates this volition pb to savings of astir ₹17.26 crore connected sanitary napkins, portion offering an further hygiene option.
Each beneficiary volition person 1 menstrual cup, which is reusable and tin beryllium utilized safely for up to a twelvemonth with due hygiene. Orientation sessions volition beryllium conducted to supply guidance connected close usage, cleaning and storage, a elder authoritative told The Hindu.
Not a replacement
The authoritative stressed that menstrual cups are not a replacement for sanitary napkins but an further option. The inaugural is intended to trim semipermanent costs and code biology concerns arising from disposable sanitary waste, portion besides improving menstrual hygiene consciousness and reproductive wellness literacy.
Sanitary napkins volition proceed to beryllium distributed astatine the complaint of 1 portion per period per beneficiary, covering implicit 19.64 lakh students from classes 6 to 12.
Owing to proviso shortages from August 2025 until the completion of the KSMSCL tender process, the authorities had earlier approved district-level section procurement of sanitary napkins for a three-month play astatine a outgo of ₹10 crore, successful compliance with KTPP norms.
Will beryllium reviewed
Officials said feedback from the expanded rollout would beryllium reviewed earlier immoderate further scaling up, noting that nary State has truthful acold afloat transitioned to menstrual cups successful schoolhouse programmes. Any aboriginal argumentation decision, they said, would beryllium guided by acceptance, comfort, hygiene outcomes and feasibility, alternatively than compulsion.
