Farmers Movement Archive

MC to instal sanitary pad vends, incinerators in Amritsar

Amritsar October 9To advocate personal hygiene among women and promote menstrual health among them, 65 sanitary napkin vending machines and 85 incinerators are being installed in different locations of the city under the Smart City Mission. Under this, 45 sanitary napkin vending machines and 65 incinerators are being instaled at 41 government schools.The remaining 20 machines and incinerators are being installed at different public toilets located at Gate Hakimanwala, Gate Bhagatwala, Inside IDH Market and near SI Office, Ranjit Avenue B Block Market, Hidunstan Basti, Golbagh Near PBN School, Kabir Park Market, Karon Market Hall Bazaar, Sinkadari Gate near power house, Dhab Khatikan, Lahori Gate, Dharm Singh Market, Near Rambagh Police Station, Ghee Mandi, Sangla Wala Akhara, Near Mai Sevayan Wala Bazar, Near Baba Atal Sahib, Atta Mandi Chowk, Papada Wala Bazaar and Kathiawala Bazar.These machines are being installed at a cost of Rs58 lakhs. The users will get a sanitary pad after inserting Rs5 coin and three sanitary pads after inserting Rs10 coin, which will be much cheaper than the pads available in the market. These machines will have availability of sanitary pads for 24 hours. —Komal Mittal, CEO of the Amritsar Smart City Mission and Municipal Corporation CommissionerKomal Mittal, CEO of the Amritsar Smart City Mission and Municipal Corporation Commissioner, said these machines were being installed at a cost of Rs58 lakh and users will get one sanitary pad after inserting Rs5 coin and three sanitary pads after inserting Rs10 coin, which will be much cheaper than the pads available in the market. These machines will have the availability of sanitary pads for 24 hours and the contractor will operate and maintain these machines for 5 years after the commencement of the project. A total of 31 machines and 38 incinerators have been installed so far and the remaining machines will also be installed in the next 15 days.CEO Smart City said women still hesitate to openly share and discuss about the periods and problems related to their periods due to a social taboo.As a result, they use home remedies during periods, the result of which they suffered from the several infections and diseases.While these machines will give women the freedom to use sanitary pads without any hesitation, the girls studying in the schools will also get the facility and their education will also not be affected.“Projects being planned under the Smart City Mission are being prepared keeping in mind every section of the city. Under this, sanitary napkin vending machines are being installed. Only 36 per cent of the women in the country are able to use sanitary pads and every year 23 million girls drop out of school when they reach the age of puberty,” said Komal Mittal, CEO, Amritsar Smart City.With these machines, women and girls from the poor sections will also be able to buy traditional sanitary pads at a cheaper rate, while the incinerator along with the machines can also dispose of the pads properly,” she added.

The Tribune

2020-10-10