Koderma: To ensure the availability of affordable sanitary pads for the girls and women in the Maoist-hit areas, a pad bank has been opened under the 'Tejaswini' programme. This attempt has been taken to raise awareness about proper menstrual hygiene. Sanitary napkins for poor girls will be available at a low cost.
Tejaswini scheme was launched in 2019 by the state department of women, child development and social security in 17 districts with an aim to impart formal education and vocational training. People, who are in a position to donate sanitary napkins, will donate the pads for the use of poor girls. Even today, most of the women in rural areas use 'cloth' instead of sanitary napkins.
Girls and women in Marchoi, a Naxal-hit village, does not follow the tradition of using sanitary napkins. Teenage girls still shy away from using pads during their menstrual days. But now the establishment of sanitary pad bank has brought huge relief to them.
"The purpose of this pad bank established in Koderma under the Tejaswini project is not only to replace the cloth with sanitary pads but also to generate awareness and educate young girls about menstrual hygiene," said villager Nishi.
Another woman, Komal said, "This Pad Bank will have a stock of sanitary pads donated by teenagers coming from affluent families, whereas those adolescent girls who use clothes instead of pads for lack of money will be given free sanitary pads and they will also be educated about menstrual hygiene. Initially, we will give free pads to those who cannot buy pads. We believe that after a few months, they will start buying sanitary napkins."
Talking to ETV Bharat, Divakar Sharan, Block Development Officer, said, "Under the Tejaswini project, which is being run for the teenagers of Naxal-affected area, a machine to manufacture sanitary napkins will also be installed within the premises of the Pad Bank. Hence the sanitary pads manufactured here shall be made available whenever required by the adolescent girls residing in this Naxal affected area."
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