New Delhi: The launch of ‘Suvidha’ sanitary pads costing Rs 1, sold at the Jan Aushadhi pharmacies, on Tuesday did not go down well with many. The fact that not even a single woman was seen on the stage during the launch programmes made way for some sharp criticism over social networking sites.
It all started with Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeting, “#WomenEmpowerment isn’t about just featuring successful women, it is about focusing on health, hygiene & comfort of women across the country.” The tweet had a picture of him from the event, which also showed four other men, including Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda and others holding up the pads in pink packets. Even Sadananda Gowda had tweeted the picture of women being given packets of the sanitary napkins.
Soon to respond was Delhi IAS officer Varsha Joshi, who tweeted, “Never mind the wisecracks about no women on the dias- its a super step forward.”
“Where are the women,” another Twitter user wrote. A user said men holding sanitary napkins is a “greater taboo breaker”. The biodegradable sanitary napkins called ”Suvidha” are available in a pack of four, priced at Rs. 4. Earlier, a pack of four pads cost Rs. 10.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Smriti Irani retweeted the picture, thanking Mr Mandaviya and the Janaushadhi scheme for slashing the price. “It’s one of your greatest contribution towards women’s health,” she tweeted.
The government’s Janaushadhi scheme aims to provide quality medicines at affordable rates. The scheme for sanitary napkins was launched in March 2018 and they were made available in the Jan Aushadhi pharmacies from May 2018.