SC ruling on menstrual hygiene a landmark step for women’s dignity, stigma-free education: Experts

The Supreme Court’s recognition of menstrual hygiene as a right to life is a landmark step for women’s dignity and stigma-free education, said public health experts on Saturday.

The apex court, has ruled that access to menstrual hygiene is an integral part of a girl child’s right to life, dignity, health, and education.

A Bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, while observing that “a period should end a sentence - not a girl’s education,” stated that the government bears a positive obligation under Article 21 of the Constitution to protect the right to health, particularly the menstrual health of girl children. The SC also issued a comprehensive set of mandatory directions to all states and UTs (union territories) to ensure free sanitary napkins, functional gender-segregated toilets, and menstrual health awareness in every school across the country.

“Menstrual hygiene in schools has been a longstanding problem that requires assertive intervention. By mandating these measures, we are preventing infections, promoting equality, and removing stigma," Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, told media.