SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, March 22: Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav (RLSY) College in Kokar, Ranchi, seems to be the only co-ed college to have a Sanitary Napkin Dispensing Machine till date. While talking to a Lagatar24.com correspondent, Prof Smita of the college explained how the machine was set up.
“We have an MOU with the Niramaya Hospital in Kokar which also associates with the Lion’s Club, Ranchi. The Lion’s Club and the alumni association of the college took the initiative to set up the machines in 2018 after our requests. Soon, another machine was also donated to us by the Club members. Both machines were functioning and helping girls in the past before Covid,” the professor said.
“After the colleges reopened, keys to one of the machines were missing, while the other had some rust issues which have now been cleared. As the sessions have recently begun, we have not had an opportunity to inform the students about it just yet, but the machine is fully functional at the moment and girls can use them anytime they want,” she added.
She added that a napkin would cost around Rs 5. The student may insert the coin and turn the valve to dispense a napkin if need be.
However, as far as other institutions such as Ranchi University and Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University are not sure whether any such machines have been set up or not as exact data is yet to be collected.
As per information, Ranchi University had passed an order to set up Sanitary Napkin Dispensing Machines in at least women’s colleges in RU, however, it is yet to be confirmed as to how many colleges have been successful in setting up machines in their premises.
While talking of it, Rajesh Kumar, CCDC, Ranchi University said, “We had passed an amendment in this regard to set up Sanitary Napkin Dispensers in women’s colleges after a guideline from UGC, however, I don’t have an exact data to confirm if they have been set up or which colleges they have been set up in. I believe Women’s College and some other departments have them but I don’t have proper data for the same.”
Ranchi Women’s College administration could not be contacted for a comment on the same.
