Bhubaneswar: Nearly one year after its announcement, the State Cabinet approved its free sanitary napkin distribution scheme– Khushi.
In a bid to encourage and ensure menstrual hygiene, in February last year, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced ‘Khushi’ scheme to provide sanitary napkins ‘free of cost’ to girl students in government and aided schools of the state.
Under the scheme, free sanitary napkins will be provided to 17.25 lakh girl students from Classes VI to XII in government, government-aided schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawaharlal Navodaya Vidyalays across the state.
#Odisha Cabinet has approved #KHUSHI, an initiative for improved menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls through increased access to good quality sanitary napkin in schools. With a five year outlay of ₹466.08Cr, KHUSHI will benefit 17.25 lakh girls in the state. pic.twitter.com/in1fKmmfVe
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) February 23, 2019
According to official sources, 18 napkins per month will be provided to each adolescent girl. The scheme will be implemented by the Health and Family Welfare Department of the state at a cost of Rs 466.08 crore over a period of five years.
The Cabinet also approved KALIA Scholarship scheme to provide scholarship to the children of beneficiary farmers. The scholarship will be provided to impart skill-development training and professional education in all government-run institutions.
The government has decided to increase the cost of meal from Rs 20 to Rs 23 under Aahaar scheme. However, the beneficiary will pay only Rs 5 per meal like before.
The proposal for transfer of two ULB high schools to School and Mass Education department has also been approved by the panel.
Besides, the panel decided to provide government guarantee of Rs 3,000 crore to GRIDCO for availing loan.
PNN
