Bihar cabinet today approved Rs 220 crore for providing sanitary napkins to adolescent schoolgirls in government middle and high schools across the state.
"Rs 220 crore has been approved for providing sanitary napkins to adolescent school girls. The plan will help in better academic, mental and personal development of adolescent girls in schools," Principal Secretary (Cabinet Coordination) Brajesh Mehrotra told reporters.
The move comes after the highly successful bicycle programme launched by former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Under this bicycles were provided to girl students, increasing their enrolment and attendance in the schools.
Similarly, Kumar had announced in February that napkins would be provided to adolescent school girls to stem the dropout rate.
In another decision aimed at providing health benefits to pregnant government employees, the state government decided to increase maternity leave from 90 days to 135 days.
According to the amended service rules, this facility will be given to those women employees who have less than two children.
The cabinet also approved Rs 19.16 crore to establish National Dolphin Research Centre in Patna. It's building and basic facilities will be constructed by Bihar Infrastructure Development Authority.
The state government also decided to compulsorily retire Arun Kumar Singh, Additional District and Sessions Judge-III of Supaul as punishment for various wrong-doings.
