Girl students to get sanitary napkin vending machine at civic schools STUDENTS CAN BUY SANITARY NAPKINS BY PAYING RS2 FOR A NAPKIN. THIS WILL PROMOTE HYGIENE AMONG THEM

The anti- human trafficking cell of Navi Mumbai has rescued a woman who was allegedly raped and sold to a brothel in Grant Road for Rs40,000.

The woman’s two daughters were also rescued. One of her daughters, a 9- year- old, was allegedly sexually assaulted by the prime accused, who has been arrested along with an accomplice.

The accused Haroon Shaikh, 36, knew that the victim’s family in Assam was in poor financial condition. He lured the victim to Kalamboli, promising her family that he would get her a good job in a bakery where the accused worked. The woman brought her two daughters, aged six and nine, along.

According to police commissioner Prabhat Ranjan, “The woman came to Khidukpada in Kalamboli along with Shaikh on January 27.”

On February 1, Shaikh threatened to kill the children and raped the woman, said Ranjan.

He said, “The next day he told her that he was taking her to a bakery but instead took her to a brothel in Grant Road and sold her for Rs40,000.” However, a few days ago, the victim managed to call her husband from a mobile phone from a bathroom.

Ranjan said, “Our team first located Shaikh and kept a watch on his house. We arrested him along with an accomplice Manju Mulla, 34, who had helped him sell the woman.”

Police said the accused had confessed to raping the woman and sexually assaulting her 9-year-old daughter.

The police is looking for yet another accomplice.

Girl students in civic schools will now be provided sanitary napkins by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation ( NMMC).

In a pilot project, the NMMC has installed sanitary napkin vending machine at a civic school Rajshri Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj Vidyalay in Ambedkar Na g ar, Rabale. Students can buy sanitary napkins for a nominal charge of Rs2 for a napkin.

The initiative is part of a series of programmes planned by the NMMC for the benefit of women.

The initiative was launched by mayor Sudhakar Sonawane on Tuesday.

“This is to ensure that girl students do not face awkward situations and also to promote hygiene among them. Such a facility will also reduce absenteeism among girls because of the issue,” said Sonawane.

“The machine’s capacity is 40 napkins and each will be given to the students at a nominal rate of Rs2,” said the mayor.

According t o Sonawane, based on the use and need of the machine in the pilot project, the programme will be implemented in other civic schools (Clockwise from left) Devotees participate in the Annual Rathutsav, a chariot festival, of the Shaneshwar Temple in Nerul on Tuesday. A priest carries the idol of lord Shani before placing it in the chariot. Clowns and band members engage with the audience. Artistes perform Yakshagana, a traditional dance form. as well.

“We want to ensure that students from economically weaker sections get the best of facilities,” said Sonawane.

A guidance seminar on a ‘ Safe and happy period’ was conducted on the occasion by Sarika Gupta, a volunteer from the non- governmental organi- sation Agis.

Gupta spoke t o students of Classes 8 and 9 about the precautions they need to take during their periods. She also talked about the myths and superstitions associated with menstruation. I n an open forum, Gupta answered various questions raised by students.

PHOTOS: BACHCHAN KUMAR