Bhubaneswar: The state government will launch ‘Khushi’, a scheme to encourage and ensure menstrual hygiene, from October.
Under the scheme, girl students in government and aided schools of the state will be provided sanitary napkins free of cost.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced it while discussing Ama Gaon Ama Bikash (AGAB) programme with women and girls through videoconferencing.
He advised the women and girls to avail of the scheme as it will address many of their health-related issues. If a mother is of good health, her family will be healthy and the development of village will go forward, the Chief Minister added.
Naveen had announced the scheme February 26 for 17 lakh school girls in government and government-aided schools from Class VI to XII. In addition to this, the government will also expand social marketing of sanitary napkins for women and girls in the community at subsidised rates.
As per the announcement, the state government will provide sanitary napkins to women in rural areas at a subsidised rate of Rs 6 for six napkins. This will be distributed through Asha workers in the villages. While ten napkins will be provided to each adolescent girl per month, a woman will get six. The scheme will be implemented by the State Health and Family Welfare Department at a cost of Rs 70 crore per year, sources said.
The Chief Minister also advised the women to make use of the recently announced Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) under which they will get healthcare coverage up to Rs 7 lakh per year.
During the meeting, he approved 1256 projects worth Rs 35.36 crore for 152 gram panchayats (GPs) of seven blocks.
The seven blocks are: Ulunda of Sonepur district, Basudevpur of Bhadrak, Gnadia of Dhenkanl, Atabira of Bargarh, Similiguda of Koraput and Lathikata and Sabadega in Sundargarh district.
The Chief Minister also approved funds for execution of projects in various blocks. Accordingly, Rs 4.25 crore for 128 projects has been given for Ulundal, Rs 8.65 crore for 275 projects for Basudevpur, Rs 6.80 crore for 298 projects for Gnadia, Rs 5.64 crore for 215 projects for Atabira, Rs 2.97 crore for 93 projects for Similiguda, Rs 4.05 crore for 133 projects for Lathikata and Rs 3 crore for 114 projects for Sabadega block.