New Delhi: In a move aimed at advocating hygienic practices among women, four sanitary napkin vending machines have been installed in women's washrooms at Nirman Bhawan, which houses the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The machine dispenses 'Happy Days' sanitary napkins, manufactured by HLL Lifecare Limited in its Kanagala Factory in Belgaum.
The vending machine was inaugurated by Additional Secretary and MD of National Health Mission C K Mishra in the presence of Managing Director of HLL Lifecare M Ayyappan and several senior officials. Mishra described it as a "bold step in the right direction for health and hygiene for women".
"We need to install more of them in schools, offices and hospitals," he added. These VENDIGO machines will dole out a pack of three pads on the press of a button. A pack is priced at Rs 10.
At present the use of napkins is low especially in the rural areas. Experts notice that this owes largely to a stigma attached to the product in India, where women hesitate to buy sanitary napkins from retail shops.
