Some girls who were earlier dependent on the programme for the napkins, were forced to use a piece of cloth for some days as their parents were poor.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia

New Delhi: After around two years, the scheme on supplying free sanitary napkins to girls in government schools is set to resume soon.

Since March 2016, students in Delhi government schools have not received sanitary pads under the scheme called Kishori Yojna, a flagship programme to provide free napkins to children studying in Class 6 to 12.

Some girls who were earlier dependent on the programme for the napkins, were forced to use a piece of cloth for some days as their parents were poor.

In some relief to the girls, the scheme is going to resume in the next few days, according to Atishi Marlena, advisor to education minister Manish Sisodia.

In 2017-18, Rs 16 crore was allocated for the scheme, but no money has been spent under it till date, according to an RTI query filed by NGO Matri Sudha.

Ms Marlena said that the scheme was not scrapped, but discontinued because of failed tenders for distributors of sanitary napkins. “No company was ready to supply at the old rates and we were unable to tender for new rates. Now we have run a new tender which has been successful. Meanwhile, we have also negotiated with Johnson and Johnson, our earlier supplier, to continue the supply,” she said.

She added that the issue was regarding the procedure for getting the tender and since that has been solved, the supply will resume within four to five working days.

The RTI reply also showed that `16 crore was allocated in 2016-17 as well but only `9.31 crore was spent out of it. In 2015-16, the government had spent `13.15 crore under it.

Students complained that they faced problems after the discontinuation of the scheme.

“We started buying on our own once the supply was stopped, but sometimes there is not enough money and we end up using a cloth or cotton,” said Pushpa, who studies in a government school in Tughlaqabad.

“The problem of non-supply of sanitary napkins under the Kishori programme was reported to us by a group of school girls. The girls reported that they face serious problems during menstrual periods. A comprehensive menstrual hygiene programme by the Delhi government will not only break the taboo, but it will also be a progressive step to ensure women’s health in the city,” said Arvind Singh, advocacy and policy head, Matri Sudha.