Women suffer as sanitary pad supply stops under Udaan scheme in Rajasthan's Dausa

In Rajasthan’s Dausa district, women and adolescent girls are grappling with the absence of sanitary napkins under the ‘Udaan’ scheme, which was launched by the previous Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government. While the scheme has not been officially discontinued on paper, locals and Anganwadi workers say deliveries have stopped from August–September 2024, leaving rural beneficiaries without access to menstrual hygiene products.

Under the ‘Udaan’ scheme, sanitary napkins are distributed free of cost through Anganwadis to girls and women aged 11 to 45 on a quarterly basis. The scheme was intended to promote menstrual hygiene and reduce school absenteeism among adolescent girls in villages. However, the current BJP-led government under Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, which came to power in December 2023, has been accused of showing indifference towards schemes started by the previous regime.

During a ground report by India Today in Dausa, several women expressed frustration over the halted supplies. Keshpati Meena, a Saathin from Balaheda gram panchayat, said, “It has been shut since August 2024, and we are facing a major problem. The girls are also suffering.” Another villager, Sheela, shared that when they inquired, the response was, “Will give when they come.”

Radha Sharma, the Anganwadi incharge in Balaheda, confirmed that napkins were last distributed on August 20, 2024. “They’ve been distributed only thrice. Since September, we haven’t received anything,” she said.

Many women said the lack of sanitary napkins has led to health issues, including infections, as girls have been forced to resort to cloth during their periods. “My daughter, who is 17, doesn’t go to school once she starts her period,” said Hameedan Bano, a local resident. “They say they will distribute when they get supplies. But when nothing is available, how will they?”

In Banswara and several other districts, the situation mirrors Dausa. Officials confirmed that sanitary napkin distribution has not taken place for over six months across much of the state. Deputy Director of Women Empowerment, Yugal Kishore Meena, told India Today, “The last supply was in September. This is not just in Dausa. Procurement is done at the state level and then distributed to districts. We are in touch with the Directorate; RMS is the purchasing agency.”

Critics claim this is part of a larger pattern. Since taking office, the Bhajanlal Sharma-led BJP government has either renamed or discontinued more than ten welfare schemes launched by the previous Congress government. These include changing the names of Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme to Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Yojana, Indira Rasoi to Annapoorna Rasoi, and Rajiv Gandhi Jal Swavalamban to Mukhyamantri Jal Swavalamban, among others. Other schemes, such as the Indira Smartphone Yojana and the Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitra programme, have reportedly been shelved entirely.

State Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra criticised the BJP government, saying, “They have no intention of implementing the scheme on the ground.” In contrast, BJP state president Madan Rathore maintained, “The Udaan scheme is ongoing. Sanitary napkins are being distributed.”

For many women in rural Rajasthan, however, the gap between policy claims and ground reality continues to grow, especially when it comes to basic menstrual hygiene.