A sanitary napkin vending machine for a government school Kiran Zehra
W
ith an aim to improve attendance and academic performance of the girl students at VLB Janakiammal Girls High School, RAC Coimbatore CACIL, RID 3201, in association with the RC Coimbatore New Gen and Innerwheel Club Of Coimbatore East, installed a sanitary napkin vending machine worth `6,000. Students from economically weak background study in this school. The vending machine was installed
as an effort to encourage them to attend school regularly even during their periods, explains Mohammed Farhan, the club president. The sanitary pads have been sourced from Bliss Natural, an organic napkin manufacturing startup based in Coimbatore. At the inauguration of the machine, students were taught how to use the facility and ways to safely and hygienically dispose off the napkins. This was followed by a menstrual hygiene awareness session A sanitary vending machine was donated to VLB Janakiammal Girls’ High School by the club.
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for the students. In another initiative the club organised a mental health awareness programme for students studying in Classes 4–8. “We were shocked to learn that many of them have witnessed, if not experienced, domestic violence. It is important for us to talk about their mental health as children are exposed to violence in their homes. Some of them are also victims of physical abuse and are at serious risk of long-term physical and mental health problems. Children
