Broken vending machines expose Madhya Pradesh's failed promise of menstrual hygiene

India Today

4 hours ago

A silent crisis is unfolding across government schools in Madhya Pradesh, after the state's commitment to menstrual hygiene lies in shambles as sanitary pad vending machines, once introduced with much fanfare, now lie defunct, unfilled, or missing altogether.In tribal districts, the crisis has deepened further, with government schools and hostels operating on zero budget for menstrual hygiene infrastructure.Slogans like 'experience the freedom' have become hollow phrases in Madhya Pradesh. In place of support, girls are met with empty dispensers, malfunctioning machines, and administrative indifference. What should be safe spaces for learning have turned into sites of stress and indignity—especially in under-resourced tribal blocks.advertisement
At Sarojini Naidu Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Bhopal, where nearly 1,300 girls are enroled, the only vending machine is locked inside the staff room. Teachers cited ongoing construction for the delay in installation.When the India Today team visited, the machine appeared functional but failed to dispense a pad after a five-rupee coin was inserted. A teacher admitted the machine hadn't been working for a long time, and that sanitary pads were often provided by staff from personal supplies. Only after testing the machine did the vice principal call a technician to repair it.At Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Jehangirabad, with over 1,500 students, the condition was worse. The sole vending machine, donated by an NGO, was buried under dust and completely non-functional. It had not been maintained or refilled in months, with no accountability in sight. According to Vice Principal Vidushi Gupta of Sarojini Naidu School, 'There was construction going on, so we couldn't install the machine in the right place. It's been damaged—we've called someone to repair it.'advertisementWith no dedicated government budget, many schools rely on the Red Cross Society Fund, collected through annual student fees. Each student contributes Rs 20 to the fund, which is partly forwarded to the education department and partly retained by schools. Teachers use these limited funds to purchase sanitary pads, a stopgap measure at best. Nasreen, a senior teacher at the Jehangirabad school, said, 'The vending machine has been non-functional for a long time. We use Red Cross funds and sometimes depend on NGO donations. Teachers help on their own when nothing else is available.'TRIBAL GIRLS WORST HITThe crisis is far worse in the tribal belts, where the government claims to be focusing efforts. During the 2025 Budget Session, the Tribal Affairs Department admitted to allocating zero funds for sanitary pad vending machines in tribal regions from 2019 to 2025. Hostel girls receive just Rs 45 per month for menstrual needs—an amount grossly insufficient to maintain hygiene.Official data highlights the severity of the problem:Sheopur: 0 machines in 21 schoolsMandla: 0 in 201 schoolsShahdol: 0 in 133 schoolsAlirajpur: 13 in 93 schoolsJhabua: 17 in 117 schoolsDhar: 5 in 233 schoolsKhargone: 4 in 155 schoolsBarwani: 14 in 147 schoolsSeoni: 7 in 119 schoolsDindori: 20 in 131 schoolsAnuppur: 3 in 135 schoolsadvertisementThese figures reflect systemic neglect in delivering basic healthcare to marginalised girls.'Whenever our periods start, we go into panic. There are no pads. We fear stains and judgment,' said Poonam Verma, a student. Another, Sarika Sable, added, 'The machine here hasn't worked in months. If friends don't help, we're left with nothing. It affects our health and our confidence.'STATE'S SCHEME TO PROMOTE MENSTRUAL HYGIENEIn August 2024, the Madhya Pradesh government claimed a breakthrough—transferring Rs 58 crore directly into the bank accounts of girls in Classes 6 to 12 at Rs 300 per student per year. This sum, meant to support 1.93 crore girls, translates to just Rs 25 per month—barely enough for one pack of sanitary pads, let alone a month's supply. Actual monthly needs typically range from Rs 70 to 80.Opposition voices like Congress MLA Vikrant Bhuriya have slammed the initiative, calling it a 'scam worth crores.''The state says it's giving Rs 45 per girl for hygiene in the government hostels, but it has admitted there is no budget for vending machines in tribal areas. Schools are running without basic hygiene arrangements,' he told India Today. According to Bhuriya, over 3.3 lakh girls dropped out after Class 8 due to lack of hygiene infrastructure and toilets.Meanwhile, Minister of State Krishna Gaur defended the government's approach. 'Our government is committed to providing free pads and installing machines. If there is negligence anywhere, it will not be tolerated. Authorities are responsible for this, and funding has been given,' she said.Must Watch