Supreme Court To Have Sanitary Napkin Vending Machines, Funds Rs 10 Lakh Released By Court.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra issued a directive to the Supreme Court registry on Tuesday to install three machines after advocate Nandini Gore pointed out how difficult it is for women visiting and working in the court to get disposable sanitary napkins when the need arises.
The Supreme Court will put sanitary napkin vending machines, a step that will help lawyers and litigants forced to suspend work and dash to a chemist or shop selling pads during uncomfortable situations. Besides, the court’s medical clinics that provide first-aid to lawyers and visitors don’t keep pads.
The court released Rs 10 lakh for three machines and an equal number of incinerators to safely dispose of soiled napkins.  Apart from sanitary vending machines, the Chief Justice Dipak Misra also released Rs 80 lakh for the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), where the funds will go into a fixed deposit and the interest will be used to provide medical assistance to lawyers.
The top court’s move complements efforts to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene in a country where menstruation is considered a taboo as many Indian women still face challenges such as restrictions on visiting religious shrines and preparing food, and enforced isolation during their periods.
Nandini Gore, who is also the secretary of the Supreme Court Advocates-On-Record Association (SCAORA), said there are around 1,000 female lawyers and interns as well as around 250 woman staff with the court registry and all of them will benefit from today’s order. She said she would request the registry to install a machine in the chamber block outside the court complex where lawyers have their offices.