Kerala has become the first state in India to make sanitary napkin vending machines mandatory in all higher secondary schools.

BCCL/ Representational Image

With just weeks left for the schools in the state to reopen after summer vacations, the government has mandated all schools to have vending machines from the beginning of the new academic year.

The number of machines should be proportionate to the number of girl students in the school.

BCCL/ Representational Image

This will be implemented under the state government's She Pad' scheme which aims to provide sanitary pads to all girl students.

The education department has also directed all government, private, aided and unaided schools in the state to ensure clean drinking water and and separate toilets for boys and girls.

BCCL/ Representational Image

In a Facebook post, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said,

“Every woman has a right to menstrual hygiene. The government's ‘She Pad’ scheme is aimed to distribute healthy and clean sanitary pads to all school students across the state. A eco-friendly disposal system and distilleries for used pads will be distributed as part of the scheme. An estimated Rs 30 crore will be spent on this scheme in the next years. The project is being implemented with the support of local self-government institutions under the leadership of the State Women Development Corporation.”

According to the government figures, there are a total of 1845 higher secondary schools in Kerala, including both private and government sector.