The Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling last Friday addressing the lack of facilities and hygiene challenges faced by women during menstruation. Citing Article 21 of the Constitution, the court recognised menstrual hygiene as an essential aspect of life.
The court directed all states to provide free sanitary napkins to schoolgirls. Following this, Babita Singh Chauhan, Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission, warmly welcomed the verdict. She also emphasised the need for separate toilets for girls and boys in schools.
Speaking about the Supreme Court’s order, Babita Singh Chauhan said, “First, on behalf of all women, I sincerely thank the Supreme Court. However, I would also like to highlight that I have been working towards this for the past one and a half years, with special focus on increasing the number of toilets.”
She added, “It is important that the toilets are built separately for girls and boys. Currently, many schools have combined toilet facilities. I have already sent proposals to different districts regarding this. Additionally, we must ensure that vending machines are installed in the toilets. Although the government has been distributing free sanitary pads, women working in brick kilns and similar workplaces often miss out because the facilities do not reach their work areas. With the Supreme Court’s decision, these conditions are expected to improve.”
Babita Singh Chauhan further stressed the importance of having female staff on duty in toilets and the availability of vending machines or sanitary pads in these facilities. The Supreme Court’s order also mandates the construction of functional, clean, and gender-segregated toilets in schools. The directive covers free sanitary napkin distribution to girls from classes 6 to 12.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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