The Karnataka government’s initiative to curb school absenteeism among adolescent girls by providing free sanitary pads has come to an abrupt halt in Raichur and Yadgir districts.
Revived in February last year after a four-year gap, the ‘Shuchi’ scheme aimed to distribute menstrual pads to 19 lakh students in government and aided schools across the state. Managed by the health department, each student was allotted a pack of 10 pads for a year. However, the distribution has now ceased, leaving thousands of girls without access to essential hygiene products.
CSR funds from Mangaluru Refinery Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) and Hindustan Life Care Limited previously supported schools with pad supply and disposal machines worth ₹1.1 lakh. But with the sudden suspension, students in over 200 schools per district are now forced to resort to cloth, raising serious health risks.
Bharathi Gudlanur, known as Koppal’s “Pad Woman,” warns that 1.6 lakh students in the Raichur education district are impacted, with rising absenteeism due to menstrual challenges. Parents in rural areas, unable to afford monthly sanitary products, express deep concern.
When questioned, DDPI KD Badiger claimed he was unaware of the supply stoppage but promised an inquiry. As girls struggle with hygiene setbacks, many blame government neglect for the crisis.
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