Menstrual health a right, provide sanitary napkins in schools: SC

In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court on Friday declared that “the right to menstrual health is a part of the right to live with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution” and ordered states and union territories to provide free oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins to girl students.

- 

“The right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution includes the right to menstrual health. Access to safe, effective and affordable menstrual hygiene management measures helps a girl child attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. The right to healthy reproductive life embraces the right to access education and information about sexual health,” a Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan said.

Linking girl students’ menstrual health with the right to education, the Bench directed states and UTs “to ensure that every school, whether government-run or privately managed, in both urban and rural areas, is provided with the functional, gender-segregated toilets with usable water connectivity”.

The top court directed the Centre, states and UTs to ensure that its directions were strictly complied with in three months from the date of the judgment.