Ludhiana: Free sanitary pads to school dropouts

LUDHIANA: Ludhiana deputy commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma on Friday launched the Punjab government's ambitious Udaan programme in the district.
Under the scheme, free sanitary pads would be given to girls who have dropped out of school and underprivileged women every month.
Women and child development minister Aruna Chaudhary on the occasion of International Menstrual Hygiene Day, the deputy commissioner said that nine sanitary pads would be delivered to each beneficiary per month through anganwadi workers.
He said the girls, young women not attending college, women from BPL families, women of slum areas/homeless women, migratory women, and every needy woman who are not covered under any scheme would be beneficiary of this programme.
The deputy commissioner said that this program would help to bring out girls who are out of schools back in academics as it would boost their confidence in completing their daily chores during menstruation and ensure their personal development.
He said that Ludhiana has 2,487 anganwadi centres in the district and nearly 4,500 anganwadi workers and helpers would be instrumental in making the programme a huge success.
He added that anganwadi workers and helpers would ensure the registration of the beneficiaries under the scheme to ensure sanitary pads can be delivered every month on time.
He said the scheme would bring awareness among girls and women about safe menstrual health hygiene with easy access to sanitary pads as poor hygiene can lead to various health issues among them.