Mumbai: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to set up sanitary pad vending machines in the public toilets across the city. A senior health official said, the proposal has been tabled for the final approval to the standing committee. These machines are expected to cost Rs 1.71 crore. “Menstrual hygiene is an important concept for the betterment of women’s health. And it is high time women get better access to basic hygiene, for which the idea was mooted to set up a sanitary pad vending machines,” said an official. Dr Saeeda Khan, who had initially proposed the concept said, they have welcomed the decision taken by the BMC. “These machines will be set up by September and once this proposal is given a green signal in the standing committee, it will definitely benefit the poor and needy women.”
She further added, the BMC will take around eight months to complete the first phase of installation of sanitary pad vending machines which will be installed in all public rest rooms and toilets in Mumbai. “In the first phase around 1,17,500 sanitary pads will be made available for free through all the vending machines, for which BMC will incur Rs 72.24 lakh for successfully installing the machines,” said a health official. Yashwant Jadhav, chairman of BMC Standing Committee, said the committee will clear the proposal of setting up the sanitary pad vending machines in the public toilets on priority basis. “This project will be hugely beneficial for women who live in slums and chawls. The vending machine can also be used to safely dispose the used sanitary napkins,” said Jadhav.
