PANAJI: Following the Supreme Court order, the Directorate of Education has asked all schools within its ambit to establish Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) corners within its premise.
In a circular issued to management and heads of the schools, the DoE has issued a series of directions to ensure adequate menstrual hygiene facilities are maintained in the institutions.
The MHM corners should be equipped with essential items such as spare innerwear, spare uniforms, disposable bags, and other materials required to address menstruation-related emergencies.
Each toilet unit must also have a covered waste bin for the disposal of sanitary material, and schools must ensure the cleanliness and regular maintenance of these bins at all times.
The DoE has informed that every school must have functional, gender-segregated toilets with usable water connectivity. Schools must also ensure that toilets are equipped with functional hand-washing facilities, with soap and water available at all times.
The DoE further stated that schools must provide oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins, manufactured in compliance with the ASTM D-6954 standards, free of cost to girl students. These sanitary napkins should be easily accessible, preferably within the toilet premises, through sanitary napkin vending machines. Where such machines cannot be installed immediately, the napkins must be made available at a designated place or through a designated authority within the school.
The DoE has urged all school managements in the state to strictly adhere to the directives of the Supreme Court to ensure better health, hygiene, and dignity for students.
