Mann Government’s ‘Navi Disha’ Brings Menstrual Health to Doorsteps of 13 Lakh Punjab Women

In a state where access to menstrual hygiene products has long been shadowed by affordability and stigma, Punjab’s ‘Navi Disha’ scheme has, over the past year, carved out a rare success story in women’s health delivery. Under the Bhagwant Singh Mann government, the initiative now reaches over 13.65 lakh women across 23 districts — distributing more than 3.68 crore free sanitary pads through 27,313 Anganwadi centres.

For a government often accused of populist intent, ‘Navi Disha’ stands out for its meticulous grassroots execution. Each month, women and adolescent girls receive nine sanitary pads free of cost — hand-delivered by Anganwadi workers who have become the link between the state and some of its most underserved households.

Since its inception, the state has spent ₹14.04 crore on the project. Officials underline that the money goes straight into the supply chain — “every rupee directed to women’s health,” as one senior health department functionary put it.

But beyond the numbers lies the transformation of a social conversation. In villages and small towns, where menstrual health often remained behind closed doors, women now speak of ‘izzat’ and ‘safai’ in the same breath. “Earlier, there was no money. We used old cloth, fell sick often,” says Gurpreet Kaur, a beneficiary from rural Punjab. “Now, pads come home every month. No shame, no hesitation.” Her words echo across thousands of homes, where access to hygiene has quietly rewritten norms of dignity.

The Mann Government’s emphasis, officials say, is two-fold: normalising menstrual health and ensuring environmental responsibility. The sanitary pads under ‘Navi Disha’ are 100 per cent biodegradable — a detail that places Punjab among a handful of states factoring ecological sustainability into women’s welfare design.

Health officials credit the Chief Minister’s directive for treating women’s health not as an auxiliary concern, but a primary policy plank. “Health is not an option, it’s a necessity,” Mann said recently, summing up the scheme’s underlying philosophy.

In a political landscape often cluttered with symbolic announcements, ‘Navi Disha’ appears to have struck a rare balance between intent and impact — turning menstrual hygiene into a matter of policy pride, not personal

discomfort.