Under the Shuchi scheme, the State government distributes 12 Shuchi Kits, each with 10 sanitary napkins, per year per student.
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There are only four months left for the completion of the academic year 2025-26. But the State government is yet to supply Shuchi kits (sanitary napkin kits) to adolescent girls aged 10 to 18 in government and aided schools, colleges and hostels under the menstrual hygiene programme, Shuchi. Tenders to procure these sanitary napkins are still under way.
The scheme, that was discontinued in 2020 during the pandemic, was resumed in January 2024, following a High Court order. Sanitary napkins were procured in 2024-25 without tenders after availing an exemption under Section 4G of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, 1999.
However, this year, the government has called tenders for procurement leading to a delay.
Responding to a question raised by Congress MLC Madhu G. Madegowda in the ongoing Legislature session, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the Cabinet had approved the distribution of sanitary pads under the Shuchi programme for the year 2025-26, and a tender had been called by Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) for the procurement process.
Under the Shuchi scheme, the State government distributes 12 Shuchi Kits, each with 10 sanitary napkins, per year per student. The State government has identified 19,64,507 beneficiaries for the year 2025-26, and the scheme is expected to cost ₹71.83 crore this year.
Students struggle
Meanwhile, the Department provided sanitary pads for schools and colleges in July and August, 2025, from the pending stock of the procurement from the previous academic year, which is now over in most institutions, forcing students to buy sanitary napkins out of their own pockets.
“This year I only got sanitary pads twice in college. When I inquired recently, the college staff told me that the pads were out of stock. So, I am buying pads from my own money. The government should earnestly implement the schemes they announce,” said Ranjitha, a student from Bengaluru.
All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) has criticised the inordinate delay in providing sanitary napkins to students. “This negligence highlights the contradictory attitude of the governments. On the one hand, the Union government champions slogans like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, but fails to deliver essential support. On the other hand, the State government offers guarantee schemes, while simultaneously withdrawing basic necessities. We strongly condemn this anti-student attitude of the government,” said Apoorva C.M., Vice President, AIDSO, Karnataka.
Turn to NGOs
With the State government not supplying sanitary pads to schools and colleges, many institutions have turned to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to fill the gaps.
A headmaster of a government school in Laggere, Bengaluru, said that their school had over 150 adolescent girls, and the Shuchi kits provided by the Department of Health and Family Welfare in July were over. “A local donor purchased enough sanitary pads for all the girls in our school for a month. We have approached another NGO for pads next month,” he said.
Published – December 14, 2025 08:04 pm IST
