Haritha Keralam Mission to distribute menstrual cups and incinerators

Thiruvananthapuram: As part of its environmental restoration initiatives, Haritha Keralam Mission is rolling out a programme to distribute menstrual cups and incinerators for sanitary napkin disposal in selected institutions across the state. The initiative aims to promote menstrual hygiene, health awareness and environmentally sustainable sanitary practices.The state-level inauguration of the project will be held on Tuesday, with finance minister K N Balagopal formally launching the programme. The function will be held at Muttara Govt Higher Secondary and Vocational Higher Secondary School in Veliyam grama panchayat in Kollam at 2pm. Kollam district panchayat president R Lathadevi will preside over the event. T N Seema, state coordinator of Navakeralam Karma Padhathi and vice-chairperson of Haritha Keralam Mission, will present the project details, while Kollam district collector N Devidas will deliver the keynote address. Local body representatives and education officials, including Veliyam grama panchayat division member K S Shijukumar, Kottarakkara block panchayat president Bindu S, block division member Padmavathiyamma and school principal S Sreenivasan, will attend the event. The project is being implemented using funds allocated in the 2025–26 state budget, in collaboration with HLL Lifecare Ltd. To ensure scientific disposal of used sanitary napkins, incinerators will be installed at 322 locations, mainly in schools and colleges. Based on a survey conducted by Haritha Keralam Mission, 1.69 lakh menstrual cups will be distributed to selected schools, colleges and Kudumbashree neighbourhood groups. In the first phase, five higher secondary schools in each district, all colleges and Kudumbashree units in 152 local self-govt institutions that adopted the net zero carbon Kerala through people campaign are included. The programme also aims to improve menstrual hygiene infrastructure in educational institutions and ensure access to eco-friendly menstrual products. Awareness classes and workshops will be organised for beneficiaries alongside the distribution to promote safe and sustainable menstrual practices.