Ask Delhi government to restore providing sanitary napkins in school: Plea in Delhi HC

The plea filed by an NGO Social Jurist claims refusal to provide sanitary napkins by DoE is irrational, unreasonable, and arbitrary. It also points out the move to be violative of the right to education.

A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court, asking the court to order the city government to return sanitary napkins to all government schools in the national capital immediately. Also, the PIL is expected to be heard on Monday.

According to the appeal, the Directorate of Education (DoE) has been failing to provide sanitary napkins to girls in Delhi government schools under the Kishori Yojana since January 2021, causing them hardships.

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Kishori Yojna

The petition, filed by lawyers Ashok Agarwal and Kumar Utkarsh, claimed that the Department of Education had adopted the Kishori Yojana, under which girl students in Delhi government schools were to be given sanitary napkins to maintain their personal hygiene and general health, as well as to remove obstacles in their studies.

“DoE vide circulars…directed heads of government and government-aided schools to distribute sanitary napkins to girl students,” it said.

The petition stated that restoring the sanitary napkins facility for female students is critical for their personal hygiene. And general health, as it has a negative impact on their education and attendance.

It argued that the Department of Education’s refusal to provide sanitary napkins is irrational, unreasonable, and arbitrary. And that it violates girl students’ fundamental right to education as guaranteed by the Constitution. As well as the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. And the Delhi School Education Act.