The Odisha administration has introduced the 2026 Khushi Sanitary Napkin Program to supply free, subsidized menstrual hygiene products to young women. Under this initiative, the state will distribute sanitary pads to all female students enrolled in government and government-aided schools from grades 6 through 12. This pro-women welfare mission is expected to assist approximately 1.7 million girls throughout the region. Managed by the state’s Health and Family Welfare Department, the Odisha Khushi Scheme operates with an annual budget of Rs 70 crore.
Odisha Khushi Sanitary Napkin Program 2026
The Khushi initiative was originally inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on February 26, 2018. The state government also facilitates the social marketing of these pads for students within their communities at affordable rates. This project promotes menstrual health and hygiene while effectively lowering school dropout rates among teenage girls. The Khushi Sanitary Napkin Program serves as a significant milestone in women's empowerment, helping to ensure adolescent girls remain in the education system.
Why the Khushi Program was Launched
Data from the National Family Health Survey indicates that 53 percent of women in Odisha rely on unhygienic practices, with roughly 69 percent using cloth for menstrual management. To tackle this critical issue, the Odisha government launched the Khushi Scheme. Additionally, the state provides sanitary napkins to rural women through ASHA workers at a subsidized price of Rs. 6 for a pack of six.
Key Highlights of the Khushi Pad Initiative
Khushi (which translates to "Happiness" in Odia) is a health and hygiene project operated by the Odisha state government to offer free sanitary pads to female students. The primary features of this distribution mission include:
- A major effort by the government to support menstrual health and hygiene for young women.
- All adolescent girls in grades 6 to 12 at public or government-aided schools receive these pads completely free of charge.
- The program is designed to reach approximately 1.7 million girls across the state.
- The government is expanding the project to provide low-cost pads to all women and girls in the community.
- It is expected to significantly reduce school absenteeism caused by poor menstrual hygiene.
The Khushi Sanitary Napkin Program is a universal, pro-women initiative aimed at improving school retention for girls and fostering greater gender equality.
Downloading the Khushi Mobile App via Google Play
On January 5, 2021, the Odisha government released the Khushi Scheme Mobile App, available via the Google Play Store. This digital tool ensures the supply chain remains efficient and transparent. The application allows for proper stock management at local warehouses and enables school nodal officers to distribute pads to students in a streamlined manner.
The app enhances accountability in the distribution process, ensuring that adequate supplies are consistently available at the block level.
Eligibility Criteria for the Khushi Scheme
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