Declaring menstrual hygiene as a fundamental right for girls, the Kerala Government has announced its decision to install sanitary napkin vending machines in all government schools across the state.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Twitter and declared the initiative to empower girls, break taboos and foster health.
“The State Government has decided to install sanitary napkin vending machines in all schools across Kerala, reaffirming menstrual hygiene as a fundamental right for girls. This project aims to break taboos…..and empower our girls to soar with confidence!,” the CM tweeted.
Earlier, the Higher Education Department had decided to introduce menstrual leave for students in all state universities. The decision was first put into effect by the Cochin University of Science and Technology and was followed up by other universities. Following this, a private school – Labour India Public School in Kerala has also announced menstrual leave for its students.
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Additionally, the schools in Kerala are scheduled to reopen by 1 June 2023. The government has ushered all schools to finish preparatory works before 22 May. This includes cleaning the premises, and water sources and ensuring that the surroundings are free of poisonous animals like snakes.