Scotland becomes first country to make menstrual hygiene products free.

Scotland makes sanitary products free

Scotland led a revolutionary change in the world by making menstrual hygiene products free, to ensure proper reach of these products to the remotest region of the country. The decision was forwarded unanimously by Scottish parliament, and the legislation was passed with full majority in welfare of women of all age groups. Scotland had made an inspiring move on Tuesday, which can definitely pave the way for proper menstrual hygiene and care, setting a wonderful example for world.

Under the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act, the Scottish Government will enforce a nationwide program which will make it imperative for all local and state authorities to make sanitary products like tampons and pads freely available for women, as per the sources. This program was brought into action to ensure affordability, accessibility and availability of period hygiene products to all the women of the nation to counter vaginal infections, diseases and illness arising due to poor menstrual hygiene among women in remote or underdeveloped areas.

Several measures are adopted to facilitate distribution and convenience of feminine hygiene products free of cost at almost public places like community centres, youth clubs, pharmacies, public toilets, restaurants, hotels and shopping complexes, proposing an annual budget of £8.7 million pounds by 2022. Schools, universities and colleges are instructed to mandate the access of sanitary products.

This programme aims to undermine the period poverty and miseries prevalent in the country, offering the reach of basic sanitary products as reported by Scottish Labour's health spokesperson, Monica Lennon who presented the bill in April 2019. "This will definitely rule a change in lives of women and girls who menstruate. Around the world, several women are deprived of menstrual hygiene products due to whopping prices and long distance reach. The local government authorities are making great progress in this regard."

Menstrual hygiene used to fall in the list of certain topics which are often forced under the carpet of secrecy. Few improvements are made in this regard, raising this issue in public, holding open discussions through social media, adverts, posters and plays. This new law has been appreciated all around the world by governments, women and human rights groups and netizens.