Bombay High Court Seeks Affidavit On Menstrual Sanitation In Public Schools

The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to provide an affidavit outlining the current status of menstrual sanitation conditions in public schools. This development arose from a petition filed by lawyers Nikita Gore and Vaishnavi Gholave, who sought the recognition of sanitary napkins as essential commodities and the implementation of the 'Menstrual Hygiene Management National Guidelines, 2015.'

During the court proceedings, Additional government pleader Bhupesh Samant informed the Court about a government scheme designed to address menstrual sanitation conditions for school children in public schools. This scheme involved training ASHA workers on the usage of sanitary napkins.

However, the Court raised questions about the effectiveness of the scheme, given that surveys conducted by district legal service authority officers revealed deplorable conditions in school toilets.

"Where is the change? What has happened post-implementation of this scheme? File an affidavit!" the Court demanded.

The Court expressed its dissatisfaction with the need for court intervention in such matters and noted the formation of a district-level committee to monitor conditions in government-run schools, as ordered by the Aurangabad bench of the High Court.

The Court had previously directed authorized representatives to conduct surprise inspections at fifteen government-aided schools, and reports were subsequently submitted by the respective district legal service authorities.

Bhupesh Samant mentioned that examining all fifteen reports would take some time, but he requested the Court to make observations on the funds required for schools to maintain and upgrade sanitation infrastructure.

The Court's focus on menstrual hygiene and sanitation in public schools highlights the importance of providing adequate facilities for students and ensuring that essential guidelines are implemented effectively.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University