New Delhi, Feb 24 (UNI) Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Uma Bharti on Saturday discussed with Minister for Skill Development and Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan and senior officials a work plan to train women self-help groups in making low-cost sanitary napkins which could be distributed free to school girls and others.
``This will also give employment to thousands of rural women,’’ she said in a series of tweets after her meeting with Mr. Pradhan.
Ms. Bharti said in every village, Self-Help Groups can avail loan under Mudra Yojna, and get trained in the skill of making sanitary napkins.
``Women in India are hesitant to talk about menstrual hygiene and there is much debate about women visiting religious places during menstruation. I do not want to give an opinion on this as it is not the mandate of my ministry. But I will surely say that just as every Indian woman has the right to be free from open defecation, she has every right get to clean sanitary napkin during menstruation,’’ she tweeted.
Giving the example of the Ambubachi ritual in Assam to observe the annual menstruation of Kamakhya Devi deity, the Minister said it shows that the basic Indian thinking on this subject has never been narrow-minded.
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