Over 2.45 Crore Sanitary Pads Distributed, Benefiting More Than 13.65 Lakh Women Across Punjab
Under the ‘Navi Disha’ Scheme, Nine Free Sanitary Pads Being Provided Every Month Through 27,314 Anganwadi Centres
Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Government Committed to Ensuring Every Woman’s Health, Dignity and Confidence
Chandigarh, October 16:
Reaffirming its commitment to women-centric welfare and inclusive development, the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, has taken a significant step towards promoting menstrual health, hygiene and dignity among women across the State. The initiative aims to improve access to essential menstrual hygiene products for women belonging to economically weaker and underprivileged sections of society.
Sharing this information, Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr Baljit Kaur, said that during the current financial year, the State Government has distributed more than 2.45 crore sanitary pads free of cost at an expenditure of approximately ₹9.75 crore, benefiting over 13.65 lakh women across Punjab.
The Cabinet Minister said that access to safe menstrual hygiene products is not merely a health necessity but also a matter of women’s dignity, confidence and empowerment. She noted that the initiative has significantly enhanced awareness about menstrual hygiene while easing the financial burden on women from disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to lead healthier and more dignified lives.
Dr Baljit Kaur further informed that under the ‘Navi Disha’ Scheme, every eligible woman is being provided 9 sanitary pads free of cost every month through 27,314 Anganwadi Centres across the State. She said this extensive distribution network is ensuring uninterrupted access to menstrual hygiene products, particularly for women residing in rural and underserved areas.
Highlighting the broader social impact of the scheme, the Minister said the initiative is helping break long-standing myths and social taboos associated with menstruation. It is encouraging open conversations, improving awareness and promoting healthy menstrual hygiene practices among women and adolescent girls.
Dr Baljit Kaur reiterated that the Punjab Government is fully committed to ensuring that every woman, irrespective of her socio-economic background, has access to essential health and hygiene facilities. She said, “Our objective is to ensure that no woman is deprived of basic menstrual hygiene products because of financial constraints. A healthy woman lays the foundation of a healthy family, and healthy families together build a stronger, healthier and more prosperous Punjab.”
Reaffirming the Government’s commitment, the Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government will continue implementing progressive, people-centric and women-focused initiatives to safeguard the health, dignity and overall well-being of women while building a more inclusive, empowered and prosperous Punjab.
