Sanitary napkins price slashed by 60 per cent at Jan Aushadhi stores

In order to push hard the campaign of women hygiene, the government will cut down the prices of sanitary napkins that are sold under the Jan Aushadhi Kendras to just Re 1. Currently, these napkins are sold at Rs 2.5 and will be available at new prices at designated centres from August 27.

Mansukh Mandaviya - Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers told PTI ‘’The pads are sold in a pack of four which currently cost Rs 10. These from Tuesday will be priced for Rs 4 only’’.

"We are launching oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins at Re 1 from tomorrow. These napkins under the brand name Suvidha will be available at 5,500 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country’’, he added.

‘’With reduction of prices by 60 per cent, he said, Modi-led government has fulfilled the promise made by the BJP in its manifesto for 2019 general elections. "Currently, the manufacturers are supplying the sanitary napkins at their cost of production. So, we will provide subsidy to bring down the retail price’’, he said.

He also informed that the total annual expenditure on the subsidy will depend on the total sales volume.

Mandaviya said, "During the last one year, around 2.2 crore sanitary napkins have been sold from these stores. With reduction in the prices, we expect the sales to jump over two times. We are focusing on quality, affordability and accessibility’’.

Earlier in a statement, the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers said that about 58 per cent of women aged between 15 to 24 years use locally prepared napkins, sanitary napkins.