Athmallik: Sanitary napkins worth Rs 7,00,000, to be distributed to students under the ‘Khushi’ scheme are lying unused in Angul district.
This has caused resentment among the parents of girl students who are now being forced to buy the napkins from medicine shops shelling out substantial sums of money. They are demanding action against those responsible for the distribution of the napkins. They alleged that if the napkins are not distributed immediately, they will turn unusable.
Sources said, there are 208 primary schools and 26 high schools in the Athmalik block. Each and every girl between 11 and 19 years is to be provided sanitary napkins free of cost. For this, the government had provided sanitary pads valued at Rs 9,00,000 to this block for distribution. But then the major part of the consignment has been left to rot at the Liptinga Primary School for six months now.
Madhapur Community Health Centre (CHC) is said to have been entrusted with the job of distribution. However, it has failed to do the job.
Dissatisfied parents blamed the education and health department officials for the sorry state of affairs.
When contacted, Madhapur medical officer Rahul Garg said the sanitary napkins could have been distributed in time had the education department provided its support.
On the other hand, local block resource co-ordinator Chhabindra Sethy refused to agree with Garg. He said the education department has not received any order to distribute the napkins. “We are not aware of any such order,” Sethy said.
PNN