The Supreme Court of India has asked the federal government to formulate a national model for all states and Union Territories for managing menstrual hygiene for girls in schools.
The apex court on April 10 also termed the issue as of “immense importance” and urged the government to prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala appointed secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as the nodal officer to coordinate with the states and UTs and collect relevant data for formulating a national policy.
“At the present stage, we are of the considered view that Centre should engage with all the stake-holders for implementation of the Uniform National Policy with a leeway for the states and UTs to modify the scheme as per their local needs”, the Bench said.
It directed all the states and UTs to submit their menstrual hygiene management strategies and plans which are being executed either with the help of federal government funds or their own, to the Mission Steering Group of the National Health Mission.