To provide free sanitary pads to needy women Udaan scheme launched on International Menstrual Hygiene Day

Chandigarh:Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary on Friday launched the women-empowerment oriented "UDAAN Scheme" throughout the state on the occasion of International Menstrual Hygiene Day, under which sanitary pads would be distributed free of cost to needy women and girls of the state every month.

Addressing the video conferencing, which was live telecasted at 1500 locations across the state, Ms Chaudhary said that the main objective of the scheme is to protect women/girls from menstrual hygiene related diseases, spread awareness about menstrual hygiene, improve accessibility to basic hygiene products, promote better standard of living for women by improving the quality of life, enhance women's self esteem and ensure safe disposal of sanitary pads.

"Under this new scheme, School drop-out/out-of-school girls, young women not attending college, women from BPL families, residing in slum areas and homeless women, women of itinerant traveler (banjara) families and left-out beneficiaries (preferably households having blue cards), who are not availing free/subsidized sanitary pads under any scheme of other departments, would be covered by incurring Rs 40.55 crore per annum for this purpose", she mentioned.

Ms Chaudhary was virtually accompanied by Ms Raji P Shrivastawa, Principal Secretary and Mr Vipul Ujwal, Director, Social Security, Women and Child Development Department. On the launch ceremony, total one lakh packets of sanitary pads were distributed at all 1500 online locations as well as at other Anganwari Centers in the state.

The Minister said that during state-level "Dheeyaan di Lohri" function, held in January this year, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, while reiterating the need for woman empowerment by addressing various issues related to women's safety, security, education and health, has announced the distribution of free sanitary pads to all needy girls/women, especially those residing in slums areas, which we are fulfilling today.

She said that beneficiaries will be covered through statewide network of 27,314 Anganwari Centres. And, around 50 beneficiaries would be covered through each Anganwari Centre as each Anganwari Centre caters to the population of 400 households.

In case, more than 50 beneficiaries make visit at AWCs to avail the benefit of free sanitary pads, they must be provided sanitary pads accordingly. "A maximum of 9 sanitary pads would be given to each beneficiary per month", she added.(UNI)