Swati Maliwal issues notice to sanitary napkin manufacturers

NEW DELHI: DCW chief Swati Maliwal on Monday led a march against period taboos; asked why 0 per cent GST benefit has not been passed to consumers. "DCW chief immediately issued notices to leading manufacturers of sanitary napkins in the country for not reducing the prices and failing to pass on the benefit of 0 per cent GST to consumers," noted a statement.

"Companies cannot eat into the rebate for women. Issued Notices to all MNCs selling sanitary pads on non-reduction of prices of sanitary pads despite GST being reduced from 12 per cent to 0 per cent," tweeted Maliwal. On Monday some college going girls informed DCW Chief that the tax rebate on sanitary pads is not being passed on to the consumers. Maliwal has sought the MRP of various sanitary napkin brands manufactured by the company both before and after implementation of 12 percent GST as well as before and after implementation of 0 percent GST.

The Commission has also asked the manufacturers to submit the detailed reasons for not reducing the MRP or if the MRP reduction has been implemented, steps taken by them to educate the masses about the lowered price. "Sanitary napkins are essential for the health and hygiene of millions of Indian women and making them affordable for the economically challenged women was imperative for the government. In absence of napkins, there are sections of Indian women who end up using dangerous material like dirty cloth, straw, ash and sand during menstruation," said Maliwal.

The notice noted that due to unaffordable sanitary napkins in the country, more than 80 per cent of Indian women and girls have been forced to compromise on personal hygiene and resort to unclean means during their menstrual cycle. "Further, over 23 per cent girls are forced to drop out of school due to menstruation. It is absolutely essential that the tax benefits reach the consumer and are not usurped by manufacturers," noted the statement.