Kerala Govt Offices To Get Sanitary Napkin Vending Machines, Incinerators

On February 15, 2021, the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala issued directions to set up sanitary napkin vending machines and incinerators in all government offices. Health Minister KK Shailaja stated that this initiative was taken as a part of making the government offices women-friendly.

The minister stated, "Initially the napkin vending machines will be installed at all major offices and other government offices where the majority of the workforce are women. The funds for this purpose will be allocated from the gender budget of departments concerned," as per reports.

Sanitary Napkin Vending Machines For Govt Offices

The minister also stated that this decision was taken considering the issues faced by menstruating women in their workplace. The Left Democratic Front government had also brought out a new health policy in 2018, which made sanitary napkin vending machines and sanitary disposal facilities mandatory in education institutions from upper primary level.

The Central Pollution Control Board gave a set of guidelines under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 on the management of sanitary waste.

It stated that incinerators were preferable to deep burial, which is only recommended for compostable sanitary napkins. According to the guidelines, locally made incinerators should be used in places with a limited number of sanitary napkins per day. For a bulk amount of pads, setting up electric incinerators with high intensity is recommended.