India's Supreme Court Rules Menstrual Hygiene Is a Fundamental Right — Schools Must Provide Free Products

In a ruling that could change millions of lives, India's Supreme Court has declared menstrual hygiene a fundamental right — and ordered schools across the country to provide free period products to all girls. The landmark decision came after a pilot study demonstrated that providing free sanitary pads at schools significantly boosted attendance among adolescent girls. Research consistently shows that poor access to menstrual products is one of the biggest barriers preventing girls from getting an education in India, particularly those from lower-income families. Many girls in India miss school regularly during their periods — some estimates suggest up to 23% of girls drop out of school entirely after they begin menstruating, due to lack of access to products, inadequate sanitation facilities, and social stigma. The court's language was striking in its directness: 'We wish to communicate to every girl child, who might have become a victim of absenteeism because her body was perceived as a burden, that the fault is not hers.' Schools have been given three months to comply with the ruling. The decision builds on years of activism by women's rights organisations and health advocates who have pushed for menstrual hygiene to be treated as a public health priority rather than a private concern. India has already taken steps in recent years, including removing the tax on sanitary products in 2018, but this ruling goes further by establishing access as a constitutional right. The practical impact could be enormous. India has approximately 120 million girls of school age. For those in rural areas and low-income communities, the cost of sanitary products — even a few rupees — can be prohibitive. Making them freely available at school removes that barrier entirely. Beyond the immediate health and education benefits, the ruling sends a powerful cultural signal. By framing menstrual hygiene as a fundamental right at the highest judicial level, the court is challenging deeply entrenched taboos that have kept generations of women and girls from fully participating in public life. Education is the single most powerful tool for lifting people out of poverty. And now, in India, a girl's period can no longer stand in the way of her getting one. 🇮🇳