Administrator
24 July 2025
To ensure easy access to sanitary napkins and good quality medicines at affordable price, Department of Pharmaceuticals under Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers implements the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janausadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP), an important step in ensuring the health security for women.
Under the project, over 16000 Janaushidhi Kendras have been set up across the country, which besides affordable medicines, provide Oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins named Suvidha at Rs. 1/- per pad only.
To further support working women and girls students, the Ministry of Women and Child Development implements the Sakhi Niwas Scheme (Working Women Hostel) under the overarching Mission Shakti.
It is a demand driven Centrally Sponsored Scheme, under which funds are released to the States and UTs for implementation of the scheme. The scheme aims to promote availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women and other women pursuing higher education or training in urban, semi-urban and also in rural areas where employment opportunity for women exists.
Under the Scheme, financial assistance is provided for running of Sakhi Niwas in rented premises for working women and for those women who are under training for job. Provision of Day Care Centre for children of the residents of the Sakhi Niwas is an important aspect of the scheme.
In addition, Ministry of Finance (MoF), Department of Expenditure (DoE) has allocated Rs.5,000/- crores to 28 States for construction of new Working Women Hostels under Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme.
DoE has approved construction of 254 working women hostels with a total capacity of 52991 beds in 28 States at a total approved cost of Rs.4,826.31 crore. Out of this, 1st instalment of Rs.3,147.66 crore has already been released to the States during 2024-25. These initiatives align with the larger goal of ensuring safety, dignity, and opportunity for women across India and are major steps towards realising the idea of ‘Women led Development’.
This information was given on Wednesday by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur in Rajya Sabha in reply to a question .
