‘18cr napkins distributed to 17 lakh women in state’

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has been running one of the largest free sanitary napkin distribution programmes of the country, managing director of Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited, Yamini Sarangi, said on Saturday.
At Kallol 2021-22, a short film competition, organised by the UNICEF, in association with its partner organisation Aaina to initiate a dialogue on periods and eliminate stigma, Sarangi said the government distributes around 18 crore napkins annually to more than 17 lakh beneficiaries under an initiative called Khusi.
“Programmes like Kallol are excellent initiatives to spread awareness on menstrual hygiene and dispel myths and taboos associated with the biological occurrence,” Sarangi.
UNICEF Odisha chief Monika Nielsen said, “Despite being a natural physiological process, menstruation remains the least talked about topic. Many women and adolescent girls suffer from various disorders and health issues due to lack of awareness on menstrual hygiene. This also leads to school dropout among adolescent girls, triggering a negative impact on their entire lives.”
Aligning with the contest’s this year’s theme, filmmakers worked with several thought-providing topics concerning mentral health. “We hope the films will be widely disseminated and they will help change the stereotypical mindsets of society,” an organiser said.
Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das appreciated the initiative.