She added that further, the relevant ministries would ensure that specific action plans aimed at facilitating the rollout and effective implementation of the policy are duly developed.

The ASG said special focus would be given to awareness and awareness activities aimed at promoting safe menstrual hygiene practices in all schools.

The petitioner’s lawyer Varun Thakur, on the contrary, claimed that the policy framed by the Union government did not in any way address the issues raised in the plea.

Citing “glaring inconsistencies” in the data used in policy documents, he said, it was stated that 64.5% of girls used sanitary napkins, 49.3% used cloth napkins and 15.2% % of towels prepared locally. This data is incorrect since the total of the three categories amounts to 129%, he said.

He said if the data the Union government relies on to make its policy is incorrect, it will be difficult to achieve the targets.

The lawyer submitted that during the petitioner’s recent visit to Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh, she found that there were no peons in schools and there was nothing such as housekeeping in public colleges.

The petitioner also inquired with different people residing in different areas and found that the situation was very bleak with no facilities to provide sanitary napkins.

Regarding the PIL, the apex court had on April 10, 2023 asked the Union government to engage with all state governments and Union territories to ensure that a uniform national policy is formulated with room for maneuver sufficient for States and Union Territories to make adjustments, based on the conditions prevailing in their territories.

The court had then directed states to make arrangements to ensure availability of low-cost sanitary napkins and vending machines in all schools, and also to ensure that disposal mechanisms are available in schools/school complexes where Students are enrolled in primary and upper secondary cycles. and higher secondary classes for safe disposal of sanitary napkins.