The Centre informed the Supreme Court that 97.5% of Indian schools now provide separate toilets for girls. In response to a PIL by Jaya Thakur, the Centre detailed its ongoing work on a national menstrual hygiene policy. Delhi, Goa, and Puducherry achieved 100% toilet coverage, while the Court continues pushing for sanitary pad distribution and improved menstrual facilities in schools.
New Delhi: The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that 97.5% of schools across India, including government, government-aided, and private institutions, have installed separate toilet facilities for girl students. This achievement is detailed in an affidavit filed in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Congress leader and social activist Jaya Thakur, which seeks free sanitary pad distribution for girls from classes 6 to 12, as well as separate female toilets in all government and government-aided schools.
The affidavit states that Delhi, Goa, and Puducherry have achieved 100% compliance with the requirement for girl-specific toilet facilities. Across the country, significant efforts have led to the construction of 16 lakh boys’ toilets and 17.5 lakh girls’ toilets in more than 10 lakh government schools, as well as 2.5 lakh boys’ and 2.9 lakh girls’ toilets in government-aided schools.
Notable achievements have also been reported in various states, such as 99.9% in West Bengal, 98.8% in Uttar Pradesh, and 99.6% in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu. However, the northeastern states, along with Jammu and Kashmir at 89.2% compliance, remain below the national average of 98%.
In addition to addressing the need for sanitation facilities, the Centre has informed the court about progress in developing a national policy on menstrual hygiene for adolescent schoolgirls, with plans for sanitary pad distribution at an advanced stage of formulation. This policy aims to address hygiene needs in alignment with the Supreme Court’s directions issued on April 10, 2023, and November 6, 2023.
The PIL filed by Jaya Thakur highlights the challenges faced by girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds regarding menstrual health and educational continuity. The plea emphasizes that poor hygiene practices due to lack of access to sanitary products and facilities can lead to school dropout among girls aged 11 to 18. The petition underscores the importance of ensuring that Article 21A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to education, is upheld for adolescent girls facing these challenges.
In April, the Supreme Court had appointed the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) as the nodal officer to oversee coordination with states and union territories to implement a uniform policy on menstrual hygiene management. The court directed states to submit menstrual hygiene strategies and report on their implementation to the Mission Steering Group of the National Health Mission. The court also called on states to establish an appropriate ratio of female toilets in residential and non-residential schools.
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Additionally, states have been instructed to outline measures for installing sanitary pad vending machines and ensuring the safe disposal of used products in schools. This holistic approach aims to support girls’ health, reduce dropout rates, and create a supportive educational environment, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Thakur’s petition emphasizes that economic hardship, combined with inadequate hygiene education, contributes to unhealthy practices that affect girls’ physical and mental health and result in increased absenteeism. Providing separate toilets and access to menstrual hygiene products, the petition asserts, is essential for girls’ well-being and educational success.
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