Newz Desk, Durgapur: The Supreme Court has sought responses from all states and Union Territories on the feasibility of making low-cost sanitary napkins available through the country’s vast network of ration shops, a move that could significantly improve access to menstrual hygiene products for millions of women from economically weaker sections.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant issued notices while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Saroj Bala, Jyoti Agarwal, Sanjeevani Agarwal, Swaraj Swaroop and Pradeep Shekhawat.
The petitioners argued that while sanitary napkins are already being made available at Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras at a subsidised price of ₹1 per pad, the reach of the scheme remains limited. They suggested that extending the facility to the country’s extensive network of fair price shops would make affordable menstrual hygiene products accessible to a much larger population.
According to the petition, there are around 19,294 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country, compared to nearly 4.8 lakh Fair Price Shops (FPS) operating under the Public Distribution System (PDS). Leveraging this existing distribution network, the petitioners contended, could substantially improve access to sanitary napkins in rural and remote areas.
