The Centre has decided to lower the price of sanitary napkins sold at Jan Aushadi Kendras across the country from Rs 2.50 to Re 1 per piece from Tuesday.
As per reports, the sanitary napkins which are sold under the brand name ‘Suvidha’ in a pack of four will be priced at Rs 4 from Tuesday.
The pack of sanitary napkins currently costs Rs 10.
Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya said the oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins which are being launched from Tuesday will be available at 5,500 Jan Aushadi Kendras across the country.
He also added that 2.2 crores of sanitary napkins have been sold from the Jan Aushadi Kendras ever since it has been launched and the sales figure is expected to rise with the reduction in prices.
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers launched ‘Suvidha’, the 100 per cent oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkin, under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in March last year.
The step has been taken by the BJP-led government in order to provide proper hygienic facilities to the poor women in the country.
According to the National Family Health Survey 2015-16, about 58 per cent of women, aged between 15 to 24 years, use locally prepared napkins, sanitary napkins and tampons.
Further, about 78 per cent of women in the urban areas use hygienic methods of protection during menstrual period and only 48 pc of women in rural areas have access to clean sanitary napkins.