Congress promises free sanitary pads

Vadodara, Dec. 6: The Congress will provide sanitary napkins to girl students in Gujarat free of cost by abolishing GST if voted to power, All India Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev announced here on Wednesday.

Ms Dev also attacked Narendra Modi government for imposing “12 per cent” GST on sanitary napkins, which she said “runs contrary” to the government’s “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” campaign for girls.

“Imposition of 12 per cent GST on sanitary napkins is a big shocker for poor girls and women. The Modi government did not slash the tax ( on sanitary napkins) despite demands raised by various NGOs and women’s group though it reduced the tax on other items,” Ms Dev said while addressing reporters.

The campaigning for the first phase of polls, slated for December 9, will end on Thursday.

If voted to power, Congress will provide sanitary napkins to girl students of schools and colleges in the state free of cost, she said.

Ms Dec said not reducing the GST on sanitary napkins is “contradictory” to the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” campaign of the Centre government.

“At one end, the government is promoting healthier menstrual hygiene practices among girls and women while on the other hand they are increasing the cost of sanitary napkins,” said Ms Dev.

She said the imposition of 12 per cent GST on sanitary pads is a “regressive move in the menstrual health discourse”, which will take a toll on health of poor girls.