The scheme, “Bahini”, aims at providing 100 percent access to free and safe sanitary pads to secondary and senior secondary school going girls. This scheme was launched by which state government?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2. i.e. Sikkim
- The Bahini scheme aims to provide secondary and senior secondary school-going girls with 100% access to free and safe sanitary pads. Under the Bahini scheme, Vending machines will be installed in 210 secondary and senior secondary government schools of Sikkim to provide free sanitary pads.
- The scheme will cover 18,665 adolescent girls studying in government schools in Sikkim.
- This is the first time in India that a state decided to cover all girls studying in Class 9-12.
- Under the scheme, incinerators will also be installed at the schools to dispose of pads.
- Anganwadi and ASHA workers will also be involved in the Bahini Scheme.
The main aim of the Bahini scheme is to curb the dropout of adolescent girls from schools. According to an international NGO WaterAid India, 23% of adolescent girls drop out of school due to a lack of proper sanitation facilities and sanitary napkins. The scheme also raises awareness about menstrual hygiene among school-going adolescent girls.