The Akhil Bharatiya Marwari Mahila Samellan Hojai Branch (ABMMSHB) has installed manual sanitary napkin vending machines at two girls schools in Assam’s Hojai district.
The initiative is a bid to provide relief from menstruation problems to girls during school time.
The two schools where the machines are installed are Deshvandhu Vidyapith Girls’ High School and Abdul Hasib Girls’ High School.
This is for the first time that such sanitary pad vending machines are installed in schools in Hojai.
Hojai Bar Association president Ruhina Waris Choudhury graced the occasion as chief guest at both the venues.
Speaking on the occasion, Ruhina Waris Choudhury apprised the students about the legal system and different Acts.
She especially discussed about Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
Choudhury asserted, “A step, irrespective of how impactful it can be, needs to be taken to break the taboo attached with menstrual hygiene and vending machines at two schools of Hojai are best examples.”
She further appreciated the efforts taken by ABMMSHB for the girls.
Manoj Kanti Bhattacharya, head master, Desh Bandhu Vidyapith Girls’ High School and Utpal Kr Sarma, head master, Abdul Hasib Girls’ High School thanked ABMMSHB for thinking and acting for the hygiene of girls.
Talking to Northeast Now, Prathiba Rathi, president ABMMS Hojai Branch and Priyanka Sarwagi, general secretary said,”Our motive is to promote health and safety measures and create awareness in the society about menstruation hygiene and sanitation.”
They informed the machine is a manually operating vending machine where the napkins will be available after inserting a coin of Rs 5 per napkin.
“We are providing first 100 napkins each in both the machines free of cost to both the schools,” they further informed.