Come August, sanitary napkin incinerators are said to be placed in five schools in Vizag. The machines are to be placed by Junior Chamber International under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. The programme is called ‘Clean India – Suraksha’ and is an extension of the Swacch Bharat campaign. The focus of Clean India – Suraksha is to generate awareness about women’s health and hygiene, both rural and urban women are to be educated through this initiative.
Superstitions and unhygienic practices during menstruation can result in severe health problems. So sensitising girl students and making them aware of menstrual hygiene is the end goal here. The maintenance of the installed machines are the responsibility of the schools and colleges they’re installed in. Two machines would be installed at Visakha Government Women’s Junior College and St. Joseph’s School and three more machines would be installed in other educational institutes.
50 napkins can be burnt to sterile ash per day in the machines that will be placed on school and college walls. The machines are said to have been procured from Coimbatore and they cost Rs 15,000 each.
“Under Suraksha programme, there’s also a plan for installing sanitary napkin vending machines in future, which would be of help to teenage girls in schools. Without facing embarrassment, they can get the pads as and when needed. Our members would identify the areas and schools and colleges in which there’s a need for awareness in washroom hygiene habits and requirement for installation of the vending and destroying machines,” JCI national president Rajshree Bhaje told TOI.
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