Team News Riveting
Patna, September 29
Chhaya Mishra, a leading women advocate in Patna High Court and former joint secretary of Advocates Association on Thursday condemned the statement of the Chairman cum Managing Director of Women and Child Development Corporation, Ms Harjot Kaur Bambrah for admonishing the minor school girls for suggesting free distribution of sanitary pads is highly regrettable.
The woman officer who is expected to promote the sanitary pad campaign, which is a part of the National health Mission deserves disciplinary action too, she said in a statement. Mrs Mishra also objected to her statement “you want jeans and condoms too” made at a government programme and suggested the National Commission for Women, Child Protection Commission should take cognizance.
She quoted the preamble of the POCSO (prevention) Act which says “It is imperative that the law operates in a manner that the best interests and well-being of the child are regarded as being of paramount importance every stage, to ensure the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child”. The school girls had simply suggested free distribution of sanitary pads in schools and separate toilets for girls.
The National Health Mission of Government of India too had recommended menstrual hygiene scheme to increase access to and use of high-quality sanitary napkins to adolescent girls. Six sanitary pads were expected to be supplied on Free Days. Free sanitary pads are being supplied to the states and union territories under the National Health Mission.
The woman officer who is expected to promote the NHM scheme is acting against the letter and spirit of the Mission and also Prevention of Children from Sexual Exploitation Act that demands a healthy life of children at every stage.
Mrs Mishra said her statement was ridiculous and must be looked into by the Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, who is himself sensitive to the cause of girls, empowered them through free cycles, free education and also free sanitary napkins. Government has already started plan to have separate toilets for the girls. Insensitive and crudeness of the officer who heads the Child and Women Development Corporation is against the rules and missions of the Government of India.
Her threat to take legal action against the leading newspaper “Dainik Bhaskar” for reporting her statement is also regrettable. “My request to the woman officer is to apologize to the girls immediately and the government take action against her for acting against the NHM and POCSO Act preamble,” Mrs Mishra added.
