The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) in Telangana are battling serious problems.
Over a year ago, the school decided to stop the supply of sanitary napkins for girls. There are 398 KGBVs in Telangana, where a total of 70,000 students are estimated to be studying. Majority of the students are from below poverty line, orphans or semi-orphans. It is estimated that at least half of them–about 35,000–have reached puberty and their problems are not being addressed properly.
Take the case of the distribution of sanitary napkins. The initiative was started with the aim of teaching girls the importance of maintaining hygiene. According to sources, the supply of napkins from Rajiv Vidya Mission (RVM) was stopped for reasons best known to officials. Officials claim that cosmetic charges were increased from Rs. 50 to Rs. 100 for students and therefore, the supply of napkins was stopped.
The amount being given by the government is not sufficient to purchase napkins as it is being spent on soaps, cosmetics and other required material. Majority of students cannot afford to buy them as they are from a poor background, said a staff member of KGBV at Pulkurthi in Manoor mandal under Narayanakhed area. Though staff members are not ready to admit it, many girls in the schools have been forced to use cloth in place of sanitary napkins. “The government should restore the supply of napkins at the earliest to protect the health of these girls,” says Rajesh, a health consultant.
The other problems afflicting KGBVs include the lack of transport at the time of emergency to the nearest medical facility, lack of medical equipment to check students at frequent intervals, non-availability of doctors at the nearest PHCs, lack of accommodation for ANMs in hostels and anaemia, eye problems among many students.
At times, the auto drivers charge between Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 to come and take patients from the hostel to the nearest hospital. Sometimes we may not get transport after six in the evening and are forced to keep the students till next morning to meet the doctor, said another staff member from KGBV.
