BHUBANESWAR: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik Monday announced his Government's decision to launch a scheme under which sanitary napkins will be provided free of cost to girl students of government and government-aided schools in the state.
The scheme called Khushi will benefit 17 lakh girl students from Class VI to XII. In addition to this, the state government will also expand social marketing of sanitary napkins for women and girls in the community at subsidised rate, the CM said.
“I am sure this step will go a long way in promoting health and hygiene among school going adolescent girls leading to higher retention in schools and greater empowerment of women,” Naveen said.
Girl students in Odisha get free bicycles, school uniforms and books from the state government. Stating that his government is committed to the empowerment of women, the chief minister said, “From Mission Shakti to Mamata and 50 per cent reservation women have been the focal point of all our key interventions.”