CM Fadnavis became the first donor of the Asmita Fund scheme who sponsored subsidy amount of 50 girls.

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government, under the Asmita (Dignity) scheme, will facilitate easy access to sanitary napkins worth Rs 25 at a subsidised rate of Rs 5 per packet which contains 8 napkins for adolescent girls.

Initially, the scheme will be applicable only for the girls studying in Zilah Parishad schools between the age group of 11 and 19, subsequently it will be launched for girls in the urban areas.

The scheme was launched by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday. Pankaja Munde , Minister for Rural Development said that over 7 lakh girl from rural Maharashtra would be benefited by this scheme, while subsequently, the scheme will benefit all girls including those from urban areas.

An Asmita card, digital identity card, will be distributed to all girls to avail the benefits of subsidised sanitary napkins through the respective self –help groups centres and data will be compiled online so that no one would misuse the scheme. Each girl will be able to get only 13 packet in a year. “Girls will get a pack of napkins worth Rs 25 at Rs 5, while the state government will bear the cost of subsidy of Rs 19 per pack. However, the department has also launched an Asmita Fund scheme to get citizen's participation by bearing the cost of the subsidy. The state have to bear about Rs 13 crore per annum against the subsidy.

CM Fadnavis became the first donor of the Asmita Fund scheme who sponsored subsidy amount of 50 girls through donation, whereas Munde paid for 151 girls. People can donate by visiting https://mahaasmita.mahaonline.gov.in/ website. “As of now, only 17% women from rural Maharashtra use sanitary napkins. Women faces several health issues as they don’t use it. There are many misconceptions about menstruation and use of sanitary napkins, women should be educated and such misconceptions must be cleared. With an aim to make it available, affordable and acceptable, the department has launched the scheme,” said Munde.

