In his address on the occasion of 74th Independence Day, PM Narendra Modi specifically mentioned the government’s efforts for affordable access to sanitary napkins for women. This mention by our PM is seen as a very special step taken towards breaking the taboo related to menstrual cycles. On this, PM Modi is also being praised on social media.
PM Modi had said that the government has started giving sanitary napkins at Re. 1 to empower women and better their health under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra scheme. He said, “In 6,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras, more than 5 crore sanitary napkins have been given to women.”
With this, PM Modi has become the first Prime Minister to mention the issue of menstruation in his speech from the ramparts of Red Fort. It is also being praised on social media. The PM said that his government is constantly concerned about providing better healthcare for the ‘poor sisters and daughters’.
Shiv Sena commend the mention
Rajya Sabha MP of Shiv Sena, Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted, ‘Glad that PM Narendra Modi ji included mainstream discussion on menstrual hygiene. By mentioning it in his speech on Independence Day, he broke the long-standing taboo. I hope the state BJP learns from this.’
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Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar also praised this
The actor did a great movie named ‘Padman’ based on sanitary health issue. He tweeted, “Talking about sanitary pads in the Independence Day speech by our Prime Minister is the right progress. This has made ‘menstrual cycles’ a mainstream topic. Congratulations also to the government, which has so far distributed sanitary pads to around 5 crore women for just Re. 1.
Our @PMOIndia talking about sanitary pads in his Independence Day speech today is true progress…made menstruation a mainstream topic. Also kudos to the government who has so far distributed sanitary pads to about 5 crore women at Re. 1 ?
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) August 15, 2020
Oxfam India talked about this
‘The official Twitter handle of Oxfam India, which campaigned against discrimination, wrote,’ Thank you Narendra Modi for Referring sanitary napkins in your speech . Hope that this will break the taboo of ‘periods’ and menstrual hygiene will be taken seriously.’