DCW sends notice to CBI, pvt firm

The Delhi Commission of Women (DCW) has issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Delhi government and a company contracted to provide sanitary napkins to government schools, after taking suo motu cognisance of a media report that the supply was discontinued under the influence of the investigative agency.

In its notice to the company, DCW chief Swati Maliwal has asked for reasons that led to the discontinuation of the supply of sanitary napkins.

Under the Kishori Yojana, free-of-cost sanitary napkins are provided to an estimated 7.3 lakh girls between classes 6 and 12 at all Delhi government schools since 2012, she said, adding that “the discontinuation of supply of sanitary napkins shall adversely affect the health and hygiene of adolescent girls”.

“It may also affect their school attendance during menstruation...The sudden withdrawal from the contract by the said company may severely impact the supply of sanitary napkins to Delhi government schools and be detrimental to the welfare of adolescent girls in Delhi,” she said.

Maliwal asked CBI director Anil Sinha to submit a report on the allegations made in the news story. She has also sought an “enquiry report on the allegations raised in the report and, if found guilty, details of action proposed against personnel responsible for the lapse”.