MP institutions lack sanitary pads and clean water:Period hygiene crisis pushing 16.8% girls to quit schools

Lack of clean toilets, water and proper menstrual hygiene facilities in government schools is forcing many girls in Madhya Pradesh to stay away from studies. A report released by the Central NITI Aayog in May 2026 said that 16.8% of girls studying in Classes 9 and 10 in the state drop out of school. One of the main reasons behind this is poor menstrual hygiene facilities, along with other social and infrastructure-related problems. The report said toilets for girls are available in 88.6% of schools in Madhya Pradesh, which means around 11.4% schools still do not have this basic facility. Many schools also lack sanitary pad disposal systems, private changing spaces and sanitary products for girls. Due to these problems, many girls remain absent from school during menstruation and later leave their studies. Madhya Pradesh is also behind the national average of 94% in terms of girls’ toilet facilities in schools. According to the 2024-25 academic data, only 80% to 90% of girls’ toilets in the state are functional. The report said that only constructing toilets is not enough, as the lack of clean water and proper sanitary waste disposal systems continues to affect the education of adolescent girls. 50% absenteeism during periods The Community Medicine departments of Bhopal AIIMS and GMC conducted a health survey between 2021 and 2023. It revealed that in some areas of Bhopal, 50.6% of female students do not attend school during their periods. Girls included in the survey admitted that they were absent from school for an average of 2 to 3 days each month. 74.8% of the students cited fear of staining clothes and social embarrassment as the reason. About 40% of the girls cited severe physical pain during this time and the lack of a sick room or clean water for resting in schools as reasons for their absence. Crisis: 53% of 11th-12th-grade girls are out of school. The reasons behind this are periods, school distance, and social factors. Safe toilets and running water are essential in schools According to NITI Aayog, schools should have safe, separate toilets with running water. Teachers should be sensitised about menstruation. A re-entry pathway should be prepared for girls who have dropped out of studies due to menstruation or social reasons. This is because, at the primary level, in a decade from 2014-15 to 2024-25, the primary GER (Gross Enrollment Ratio) of girls in MP has decreased from 107.43% to 76.4%. These four things must be available for girls in schools
During a delicate time like periods, just four things should be made mandatory for girls in every school. First, an Indian toilet, second, a water tap, third, a mug, and fourth, a separate arrangement for a dustbin to dispose of sanitary pads. Bhaskar Expert – Dr. Varuna Pathak, Chairman, IMA (Women Wing)