On January 30, 2026, the Supreme Court of India ruled that menstrual hygiene management is part of the Right to Life and Dignity under Article 21. Every school in India must now comply by April 30, 2026.
Under the Supreme Court’s ruling, every school in India — government and private — is now legally required to provide:
Through our Asani Sanitary Napkin Program, the Desai Foundation has spent years building the exact infrastructure this ruling now demands: locally-produced pads made by women for women, school-based Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) programs, teacher training, community awareness, and systems for monitoring and accountability.
Today, we are actively partnering with schools across the country to help them meet the Supreme Court’s new mandate. From setting up MHM corners and distributing free pads, to training teachers and running awareness sessions — we are on the ground, making compliance a reality.
The Supreme Court’s mandate requires every school in India to meet comprehensive menstrual hygiene standards by April 30, 2026. Whether you’re a government school, private institution, or district administration — the Desai Foundation is ready to partner with you.
We can help you set up MHM corners, supply free Asani sanitary napkins, train your teachers, run student and community awareness programmes, and build the monitoring systems you need for compliance
As featured in Indiaspora: Landmark Supreme Court Ruling Will Have Global Implications for Menstrual Health and Girls’ Education.
The Desai Foundation empowers women and children through community-based programmes in health, livelihoods, menstrual equity, and climate action across 8 states in India. Through our Asani Sanitary Napkin Program, we produce and distribute pads made by women for women, conduct menstrual health awareness sessions, train boys and men as allies, and ensure girls stay in school safely and confidently.
In 2026, the Supreme Court of India affirmed menstrual hygiene as a fundamental right — validating the mission we’ve championed since our founding.
