In an effort to promote hygiene, the city Corporation has decided to install napkin-vending machines in government offices, allied institutions, and colleges in its limits. Such machines have already been installed in girls’ schools run by the local body.
As a beginning, the Corporation installed a napkin-vending machine, with incinerator, at its office, where more than 50 per cent of the employees are women. Each napkin costs Rs.5. Mayor K. Chandrika inaugurated the facility in the presence of Chairperson of standing committee for Health S. Pushpalatha.
In a statement, the Corporation said the scheme would be extended to the Secretariat, Vikas Bhavan, Swaraj Bhavan, Kerala Water Authority, Vyduthi Bhavan, Government Women’s Polytechnic at Kaimanam, NSS College for Women and other institutions which have a large number of women. Napkin-vending machines and incinerators would be installed in at least 15 government offices. “We are in talks with Hindustan Latex for procuring napkins. The number of vending machines needed for an office will be decided on the basis of the strength of the women workforce,” officials said.
Rs.45,000 a machine
The price of a machine would be around Rs.45,000. The civic body was in talks with several companies for procuring incinerators. The selected company, besides supplying the instrument, would have to carry out regular maintenance of the machine. A sum of Rs.30 lakh had been allotted for implementing the scheme in government offices and colleges, the chairperson said.
As many as 38 napkin-vending machines and incinerators had been installed in government schools, she said adding that based on the requirement more schools would be covered under the scheme.
