Sanitary napkin vending machines to be installed at city's colleges
In an attempt to advocate personal hygiene among female students, the UT education department has decided to install sanitary napkin vending machines at the colleges in the city.
In an attempt to advocate personal hygiene among female students, the UT education department has decided to install sanitary napkin vending machines at the colleges in the city.
Following the directions issued by the ministry of human recourse development (MHRD), the education department would initially install a vending machine each at government colleges in Sector 11 and 42.
The order to install machines in these colleges was approved last month by the then director of public instructions (colleges) Sandeep Hans."It is a government approved project, and an agency recommended by the government would install these machines. Machines would be first installed at two colleges on trial basis to judge their effectiveness", said Hans.
Hans added that he had recommended the installation of vending machines at three private colleges too and said that the machines would prove to be of great help in rural areas.
Students complimented the initiative for keeping in view feminine hygiene and for also providing women with an avenue that could be used at a time of need. Sonali Sharma, an architecture student, said, "I think this is a great step by the government as girls would not panic at the time of need. These machines should be installed in schools as well."
However, according to DPI (schools) Kamlesh Kumar, funds had not been allocated to UT schools this year for the project.
"There are over hundred government schools in Chandigarh and thus we require a huge budget for the instalment of these machines in schools. We would get these machines installed as soon the budget is allocated to us", Kumar said.
Talking about the cost of a machine, an official said that each machine would cost around Rs 17,500 excluding the instalment charges and added that "the project would not only provide women easy access to sanitary napkins but would also create awareness about issues related to women's health".