To address absenteeism among girl students due to menstruation and dropping out of schools after attaining puberty, the first of its kind menstrual hygiene management programme has been launched by the Sivasagar district administration in Assam.
In the first phase of the project, 17 schools, including four co-ed institutions and Sibsagar Girls' College, will have sanitary vending machines and incinerators to dispose napkins in a hygienic manner.
State Power minister Topon Kumar Gogoi inaugurated the project at an institution at Yuvadol in Sivasagar on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Gogoi said, "Times are changing and the Sivasagar district administration's step towards menstrual hygiene management is a testimony of that. The subject of menstruation has been discussed in our state Assembly and funds have been allocated in the budget.
"But we have to create awareness in the community and Sivasagar district can be a role model for other districts to follow."