Affordable sanitary napkins at just Rs. 2.50 per pad will now be available at over 3600 Janaushadhi Kendras functional across India under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Road Transport and Highways, Shipping, Mansukh L Mandaviya, launched the ‘JANAUSHADHI SUVIDHA’, the Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Napkin, under the PMBJP in New Delhi today marking the long awaited fulfillment of the promise made by Union Minister, Chemical and Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs Ananthkumar on the occasion of World Women’s day celebrated on March 8, 2018.
Jan Aushadhi Suvidha comes with a special additive, which makes it biodegradable when it comes in contact with oxygen after being discarded. This would ensure ‘Swachhta, Swasthya and Suvidha’ for the underprivileged Women of India and go a long way in the achievement of Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s vision of Affordable and Quality Healthcare for All.
According to the National Family Health Survey 2015-16, about 58 percent of women aged between 15 to 24 years use locally prepared napkins, sanitary napkins and tampons. Further, about 78 percent women in urban areas use hygienic methods of protection during menstrual period; only 48 percent women in rural areas have access to clean sanitary napkins.
Mandaviya said that this is a special gift for all Women on the eve of World Environment day, as this unique product would ensure Affordability, Hygiene as well as Ease of use and disposal for them.
Emphasizing upon the affordability aspect of SUVIDHA, Mandaviya said that the average price of sanitary napkins available in the market today is around Rs. 8 per pad, whereas now with the launch of the SUVIDHA napkins at Rs. 2.50 per pad, this will go a long way in making the basic hygiene requirement aid for Women affordable for the underprivileged sections.
Mandaviya noted that this is one of the most important requirements in ensuring the Health Security to that section of Women in India who still use unhygienic aids during menstrual period due to non-affordability of some of the popular brands of sanitary napkins available in the market today. Such unhygienic aids cause fungal infections, Reproductive Tract Infection, Urinary Tract Infection, Cervical cancer and also make women vulnerable to infertility.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Navdeep Rinwa, Joint Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Sachin Singh, CEO, Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), along with other senior officers of the Ministry.
