Installation of Sanitary Napkins Vending machines @ Chennai Central, Egmore, and Tambaram Railway Stations
In India, there are 335 million menstruating women in India and out of which an estimated 121 million girls and women are currently using disposable sanitary pads a month in India. Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management is a needed and imperative need of society in terms of the growing population of women who have adapted to an active lifestyle.
While there is no specific goal or indicator for Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management in United Nation’s Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is linked directly or indirectly to various SDGs including the most important aspect pertaining to health namely Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. In the last decade, policymaking in India has increasingly focused on menstrual health. However, Government alone will not be able to totally take care of the MHH management. This is the place in which Private entities and NGOs play a vital role.
Rotary International which has a special focus on Girl/Women empowerment has taken up MHH management in a big way. In a similar manner, Geo India Foundation has been giving primary focus and attention to these issues. Both the Organization has come together to provide easy access to the Menstrual products for those women who need to get a hygiene product for their immediate use especially the ones who are on travel. Starting from February a total of 96 sanitary napkin vending machines have been installed in Metro Stations, All women Police stations, and even Public toilets maintained by Greater Chennai Corporation.
Rotary Club of Chennai Thiruvanmiyur, Rotary International District 3232 , Geo India Foundation and Southern Railway Women organization has installed 10 Sanitary napkin vending machines in various ladies toilets in Central Station, Egmore Station and Tambaram Station. Matrimony.com has supported this initiative as part of its CSR initiative. Mrs. Punitha Sridhar, First Lady RI district 3232, Mrs. Krishnaveni Chalam, Secretary SRWO, Mrs. Alarmelmangai Subramanian, Smt Swarajlakshmi and Smt Geetika, SRWO and Mr. Jayaraj, HR head M/s Matrimony.com Mr. Prem Kumar President Rotary Club of Chennai Thiruvanmiyur and Mrs. Sarada Ramani, Chairman Menstrual Health and Hygiene RI Dist 3232 were part of the hand over function held at Dr. MGR Chennai Central Station.
