PIL filed in Delhi HC for restoration of sanitary napkin facilities in govt schools
India Today
A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court to have sanitary napkin facilities restored in government schools.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court, that seeks sanitary napkin facilities to be restored to girl students in government schools. The PIL says that sanitary napkins in Delhi government schools are not being provided in schools since January 2021, while adding that it is causing problems for female students. The PIL is likely to be heard by the High Court on Monday. The current PIL has been filed by an NGO Social Jurist via Advocate Ashok Agarwal.
The petition states that the distribution of sanitary napkins to girl students of government and government-aided schools had been started by the Delhi government under the Kishori Yojana.
The PIL stated that the Delhi government’s DoE had adopted the Kishori Yojana scheme under which girl students enrolled in its schools will be provided sanitary napkins to maintain personal hygiene and general health in addition of eliminating obstacles in their studies.
The petitioner further submitted that sanitary napkins are not being distributed to female students in DoE run schools since January 2021.
It added that the restoration of this facility is critical for girl students' personal hygiene and overall health, as its absence has a negative impact on their study and attendance.
A letter to the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also been written in this regard with a request for the immediate restoration of this facility, according to the petition.
It further argued that not providing sanitary napkins is irrational, unreasonable, and arbitrary, and that it is a violation of girl students' fundamental right to education, as guaranteed by Articles 14, 21, and 21-A of the Indian Constitution, as well as the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and the Delhi School Education Act, 1973.
