This suvidha under PMBJP focuses on background, need,objective,mission,details of the scheme.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana

(PMBJP): “Suvidha”

‘Swachhta, Swasthya and Suvidha’ for women

INTRODUCTION:

“MENSTRUATIONAL  BLOOD IS THE ONLY BLOOD WHICH IS NOT TRAUMATICALLY INDUCED,YET IT IS THE MOST HIDDEN AND SEEN AS A MARK OF DISGRACE”

Menstruation marks the transition of girl into a women with the beginning of her puberty  , one of the greatest phase of a females life. It is due to this bleeding among the women that men breed. It is one of the vital processes of a woman’s body which deserves utmost caution and self-care backed up with hygiene and rest. Ensuring proper hygiene during menses,  and eating right is the key to ease the pain a woman go through.But ironically due to cultural norms and religious taboos on menstruation are often compounded by traditional associations with evil spirits, shame and embarrassment surrounding sexual reproduction.The myths, misconceptions, superstitions and (cultural and/or religious) taboos concerning menstrual blood and menstrual hygiene are the main causes that lead to serious diseases and mensus related problems that may even be fatal.

Keeping in view the menstrual hygiene, the govt. of India The Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers nd Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar has launched ‘Suvidha’, a 100% Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Napkin, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)  on the occasion of INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY i.e 8th March.

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Objectives:

• Making quality oxy biodegradable pads available at affordable prices for all, particularly the poor and disadvantaged, through exclusive outlets Jan Aushadhi Medical Store.
• Reduce out of pocket expenses in healthcare by bringing down the rate of the napkin MAKING IT EASILY AVAILABLE FOR POOR WOMEN across 586 Indian districts .

NEED FOR SUCH SCHEME : Several barriers to menstrual health and hygiene

There have been several barriers to menstruation starting from the awkwardness among women to discuss or talk about it, to the vague norms attached to it like not touching the pickle or entering the sanctum . One of the biggest barrier is the narrow mindset of the society regarding this biological process where the stains of blood are considered as impure and seen as embarrassment.

Along with these barriers , there is a barrier in the access to sanitary napkins, for various reasons, including the: high price of pads manufactured by large FMCG’s. There is also the issue of the lack of availability of sanitary napkins in districts and remote areas.

According to the National Family Health Survey 2015-16, about 58 percent of women aged between 15 to 24 years use locally prepared napkins, sanitary napkins and tampons. Further, about 78 percent women in urban areas use hygienic methods of protection during menstrual period; only 48 percent women in rural areas have access to clean sanitary napkins.The use unhygienic aids during menstrual period due to non-affordability of some of branded of sanitary napkins causes fungal infections, Urinary Tract Infection, Reproductive Tract Infection, Cervical cancer and also make women vulnerable to infertility. Moreover, the disposal of non-biodegradable pads is also a major problem related to environment.

Mission:

• Create awareness among public regarding mensuration hygine and heatlh..
• Create demand for sanitary napkins through medical practioners.
• Provide sanitary pads to all section of the society in particular rural women.
• Provide all mensuration related health care products too under the scheme.
• This is a step toward “WASTE  TO WEALTH MANAGEMENT”.

Sanitary Protection Materials and Disposal

The choice of sanitary protection is very much a personal decision based on cultural acceptability. It is often influenced by a woman’s or girl’s environment and access to funds, water supply and affordable options. It is critical that any programme aiming to support women or girls with sanitary protection materials involves them in the planning discussions and decisions about the options to be supported (see also deciding with the community and planning with the community).

Disposable sanitary towels are the most frequently used methods of managing menstruation. In resource-poor settings they are often prohibitively expensive, bulky to transport and difficult to dispose of. Many women and adolescent girls from poor families cannot afford to buy these hygienic towels . The govt. launched such scheme for the fulfillment of such basic needs.

According to Menstrual Health Alliance India, an NGO, sanitary napkins constitutes over 45% of menstrual waste, which is disposed off as routine waste along with other household garbage. This poses a major health hazard.

The data also reveals that in urban areas, 13% of menstrual waste is thrown in open spaces such as rivers, wells, lakes and by the roadside, while 10% waste is disposed of in toilets, 9% is burnt and 8% is buried.

KEY FACTS OF SUVIDHA SCHEME:

• The affordable Suvidha sanitary napkins will be available for Rs. 2.50 per pad without wing and Rs.3.25 for with wings at over 3200 Janaushadhi Kendras across India.
• It was launched under government’s vision of providing Affordable and Quality Healthcare for All.
• It will ensure ‘Swachhta, Swasthya and Suvidha’ for underprivileged women.
• The Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India is expected to decide the manufacturer through a tender process and the pads will be available at all Janaushadhi stores from May 28,2018 World Menstrual Hygiene Day
• These affordable sanitary pads promise to promote hygiene, ensure the ease of disposal, and keep the environment clean.
• Oxo-biodegradable product is made by blending a pro-degrading   additive into it that causes breakdown by oxidation when exposed to heat or sunlight.
• This will go a long way in making the basic hygiene requirement aid for Women affordable for the underprivileged sections.
• Not only are these pads, branded ‘Suvidha’, expected to be a third the price of napkins currently available in the market, they will also be environmentally friendly because they are biodegradable.
• There are currently over 3,200 PMBJP stores dispensing generic medicines at less than half the prices in the open market, stated a release by the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers.
  These special kendras provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficiency as expensive branded drugs.
• The government is introducing the Suvidha pads at a time when there has been an increasing demand from women across the country to waive off the 12% GST on sanitary pads.

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CONCLUSION:

The new sanitary pads seem to check all the categories –

• affordability,
• environment friendliness,
• hygiene and
• quality.

The launch of SUVIDHA would turn out to be a master stroke in empowering women by diminishing this cultural taboos attached to them ,providing them their social space and in-dependency”.Mensurational process should be respected and seen as a mark of grace and must be embraced.

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NIRBHAYA FUND SCHEME