For International Women's Day, two Jalpaiguri schools get sanitary napkin vending machines

As part of their women's empowerment programme, a Kolkata-based NGO installed sanitary napkin vending machines in two schools in Jalpaiguri district of North Bengal on Wednesday, celebrated around the world as International Women's Day.

The two schools located in and around Malbazar cater to students from the economically challenged strata of society, especially those whose families work in tea gardens.

Many are of the opinion that this is the first of its kind initiative in North Bengal.

"We had approached the sub-divisional officer of the Mal sub-division and expressed our wish to donate and install two sanitary napkin vending machines. The SDO office shortlisted Pushpika Girls High School and Subhashini Girls High School, thereby giving us a go ahead. We chose International Women's Day for the programme," the NGO's spokesperson said.

The 'VENDIGO' machines were procured from HLL Life Care at a cost of Rs 15,564 each and will dispense affordable and high-quality sanitary pads (three for Rs 10)

It may be noted that HLL, which is under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has been installing such machines in education institutions, bus stops, railway stations and offices throughout the country.

"It will be a great help for our students. Our school caters to girls coming from the Below Poverty Line bracket, mostly from tea gardens from around this area. The machine was installed on Wednesday and teachers were trained on the operational procedures. Now we, in turn, will teach the students and sensitise them," stated Sister Sudha, teacher-in-charge, Pushpika Girls High School. The school has strength of 1,821 students in Classes V to XII.

Subashini Girls High School, also located in Malbazar, has a students' strength of 1,643.

"The vending machines will be a great help to the students. A majority of the students come from the economically-challenged strata and cannot afford costly products. Earlier, we had to face great problems and in most cases even were compelled to send students home," stated Karabi Das, headmistress of the school.

The NGO has plans to install similar machines in the red light areas of Kolkata.

"We have tied up with another NGO and will soon install similar vending machines in Sonagachi and the Kalighat red light area," the NGO spokesperson said.

A study conducted by FSG states that there are over 355 million menstruating women and girls in India.

Yet millions of women across the country still face significant barriers to comfortable and dignified experience with menstrual health.

"Qualitative studies and an analysis of the product market indicate that premium commercial products are unaffordable or not consistently accessible for women and girls in low-income communities.

Women and girls lack access to appropriate sanitation facilities.

There are 63 million adolescent girls living in homes without toilets," the study states.

An AC Nielsen study conducted in 2011 states that only 12 percent of India's 355 million menstruating women use sanitary napkins.