Government slashes price of sanitary napkins to one Rupee

The government yesterday slashed the price of sanitary napkins sold from Jan Aushadhi Kendras to just one rupee per piece from two-and-a-half rupees earlier.

Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers D.V. Sadananda Gowda made the announcement today. Addressing an event in New Delhi, Mr Gowda said, the government will ensure that all women and girls across the country have access to safe and hygiene products at an affordable price.  

The Minister said during recent Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured that within hundred days, poor women would be provided sanitary napkins at one rupee. Mr Gowda said this become a reality now.  

The Government had launched Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkin at 2 rupees 50 paise per pad on the eve of the World Environment Day last



year. 

Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Mansukh  Mandaviya said, about 28 million girls are reported to be leaving education because of lack of availability of good quality sanitary napkin pads at a reasonable cost. He said, Department of Pharmaceuticals is determined to provide affordable healthcare to all citizens through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana Kendras across the country. He said the measure has already led to substantial savings to the poor on medicines.

Sadananda Gowda also launched a mobile App Janaushadhi Sugam which will enable people to search Janaushadhi generic medicines and stores at the tip of their fingers. It is available on both Android and iOS platforms. The App can be downloaded free of cost from the Google Play Store and Apple Store.