Guwahati: The Assam government has included sanitary napkins to the list of relief materials to be distributed among women and adolescent girls affected by floods and other natural disasters.
In an official order Revenue and Disaster Management Department Commissioner and Secretary M S Manivannan said considering the maintenance of the dignity of women and adolescent girls during flood etc, the DCs and SDOs have been asked to include sanitary napkins in the list of relief items from GR (Gratuitous Relief) fund.
Many NGOs have been advocating the cause for quite some time. A digital campaign was also run by public health activists named ‘Dignity of Floods’ in change.org demanding the construction of “50 women-friendly flood shelters in the 10 most flood-prone districts in the state for the safety and dignity of our women.”
The petition also urged the government to build gender-segregated toilets and bathing facilities with the provision of menstrual hygiene products, special provisions for lactating mothers and pregnant women, and visits of welfare officials to ensure women’s safety.
