Swachha Scheme, Andhra Pradesh

On October 5, 2021 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched Swechha scheme for teenage girls studying in Class 7^th to 12^th in government schools and colleges. Under this scheme the beneficiary girls will be provided with free sanitary napkins. About 120 napkins will be provided free of cost every year. This scheme is aimed to protect the health and menstrual hygiene of girls. For girls belonging to poor rural family background with lack of amenities, this scheme will turn out as a boon. Awareness will be created regarding proper disposal of used napkins and menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls under this scheme.

Overview:

Scheme Objectives and Benefits:

• The main objective of the scheme is to improve health and menstrual hygiene of the girl students in the state.
• Under this scheme free sanitary pads will be distributed to the girl students studying in class 7^th to 12^th in government schools and colleges.
• Each girl student will get 120 napkins every year under this scheme.
• This scheme will educate the girls regarding use and proper disposal of used napkins thereby helping them maintain good menstrual hygiene.
• It will help improve the health and hygiene of girls thereby preventing various diseases.
• This scheme intends to benefit about 10 lakh girl students in the state.

Key Points:

• Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched Swechha Scheme on October 5, 2021.
• This scheme is launched for distributing free sanitary napkins, keeping in mind the importance of menstrual hygiene of females.
• Under this scheme free sanitary napkins will be distributed to adolescent girls studying in class 7^th to 12^th in government schools and colleges.
• About 120 napkins will be provided to each girl student every year.
• Menstrual hygiene and using sanitary pads always have been a critical issue in rural poor areas, also financial constraints and ignorance add up to the same.
• This scheme aims at educating the girls regarding use and proper disposal of used napkins thereby helping them maintain good menstrual hygiene.
• Awareness regarding menstrual hygiene will be spread among the students once a month by women teachers and women cops.
• Joint collector (Aasara) will monitor the implementation of the scheme and a woman teacher will be appointed as a nodal officer.
• This scheme will be a boon to all the girls to prioritize and improve their health and hygiene.
• About 10 lakh girl students will benefit from this scheme.
• Total outlay for the scheme is Rs. 32 crores.
• State government is taking various other measures for taking care of menstrual health of women in the state.
• 6417 incinerators will be set up under Clean Andhra Pradesh programme.
• Sanitary napkins will be sold at Cheyutha shops at affordable rates.