Government Schemes & Subsidies that Fund Menstrual-Hygiene Infrastructure
Most sanitary napkin vending machines and incinerators in India are paid for through a government scheme, a Finance Commission grant or corporate CSR — not a school's own budget. This guide maps the central schemes, state schemes and local-area funds that cover this equipment, and how to route a request through each.
Central Government schemes
Nationwide programmes that either fund the equipment directly or allow states to budget for it in their annual plans.
Samagra Shiksha
Ministry of Education (Dept. of School Education & Literacy)
The integrated school-education programme. Under the annual project approvals and the Composite School Grant, many states are permitted to install sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators in government and government-aided school washrooms as part of girls' hygiene and self-defence components.
- For
- Government & government-aided schools
- How to apply
- State Project Office / SPD → District Education Office. Request inclusion in the year's Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B).
National Health Mission — Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) & RKSK
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
The Menstrual Hygiene Scheme and the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) promote menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls (10–19), largely in rural areas. State NHM Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) can budget for hygiene infrastructure alongside napkin supply.
- For
- Adolescent girls via schools, anganwadis, health sub-centres
- How to apply
- State NHM / RKSK nodal officer → District Programme Manager. Get the item into the state PIP.
Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin Phase II & Urban 2.0)
Dept. of Drinking Water & Sanitation / Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
Menstrual Hygiene Management is a named component of SBM. Solid & Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) funds and 15th Finance Commission tied grants routed through Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies can pay for incinerators and dispensers in schools, anganwadis, community and public toilets.
- For
- Panchayats, urban local bodies, community & public toilet complexes, schools
- How to apply
- Gram Panchayat / Municipal Commissioner → District SBM cell. Include in the village or ward SLWM plan.
Scheme for Adolescent Girls (erstwhile SABLA)
Ministry of Women & Child Development
Nutrition and life-skills programme for out-of-school adolescent girls (11–14), delivered through anganwadi centres. Menstrual hygiene awareness and, in some states, supporting infrastructure are covered.
- For
- Anganwadi centres, adolescent-girl groups
- How to apply
- District Programme Officer, ICDS → CDPO.
State schemes
Most states run their own menstrual-hygiene scheme. These usually supply napkins and fund the dispensers and incinerators that go with them in government schools and health facilities.
| State | Scheme | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Kerala | She-Pad | Free sanitary napkins plus incinerators / disposal units installed in government and aided schools for girls in classes 6–12. Implemented with Kudumbashree and local self-governments. |
| Karnataka | Shuchi | Free sanitary napkins for adolescent girls in government and aided schools; incinerators and dispensers installed in many schools and PU colleges. |
| Tamil Nadu | Free Supply of Sanitary Napkins Scheme | Long-running free napkin scheme for girls in government schools and colleges; the state has also equipped many government colleges and hostels with vending machines and incinerators. |
| Maharashtra | Asmita Yojana | Subsidised sanitary napkins to Zilla Parishad school girls and rural women through self-help groups; district and ZP funds used for washroom hygiene infrastructure. |
| Rajasthan | Udaan | Free sanitary napkin distribution across the state; associated disposal infrastructure funded through health and education budgets. |
| Odisha | Khushi | Free sanitary napkins to girls in government and aided schools (classes 6–12); incinerators provided in many schools. |
| Punjab | Free Sanitary Napkin Scheme | Free napkins for girls and women below the poverty line; school and health-department funds used for dispensers and disposal. |
| Chhattisgarh | Suchita | Subsidised sanitary napkins via SHGs; incinerators and vending machines in schools and anganwadis under SBM and education funds. |
Other states — Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and the UTs — run comparable schemes under their health or education departments. Ask us for the current scheme name in your state.
Other funding routes
When a scheme budget is not available, these are the routes institutions most often use.
Corporate CSR
Private companies & PSUsUnder Section 135 and Schedule VII of the Companies Act 2013, menstrual-hygiene projects qualify under promoting healthcare & sanitation, education, and gender equality & women empowerment. Companies routinely fund machine installations in government schools, ITIs and community facilities near their operations.
MPLADS / MLA-LAD funds
Constituency developmentMembers of Parliament and MLAs can sanction local-area development funds for community assets, including sanitary napkin vending machines and incinerators in schools, colleges and public buildings in their constituency.
15th Finance Commission grants
Panchayats & municipalitiesTied grants to rural local bodies (drinking water & sanitation) and urban local bodies (solid waste management) can be used for menstrual-waste management infrastructure in panchayat and municipal buildings, schools and public toilets.
District Mineral Foundation (DMF / PMKKKY)
Mining districtsIn mining-affected districts, DMF funds prioritise health, sanitation and women & child welfare — a common route for equipping schools and health centres in those districts.
NABARD & rural livelihood funds
Rural / SHGRural infrastructure and livelihood programmes can support SHG-run napkin units and the disposal infrastructure that goes with them.
How Lyra supports your procurement
Registered on GeM
Direct purchase orders and GeM bids — no separate tender needed for eligible quantities.
Documents for your proposal
Formal quotation, technical specifications, CPCB / ISO / SWM Rules 2016 certificates and HSN codes to attach to a DPR, AWP&B request or CSR proposal.
GST tax invoice & MSME
Compliant invoicing with our Udyam / MSME registration for scheme reimbursement and CSR audits.
Multi-site & phased supply
Consolidated pricing and phased delivery for state education departments, hospital groups and municipal rollouts.
Frequently asked questions
Can a government school buy a napkin vending machine without floating a tender?+
Yes. Lyra Enterprises is a registered vendor on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). Government schools, colleges, hospitals and departments can place a direct purchase order on GeM within the prescribed limits, or use GeM bid / reverse auction for larger quantities — no separate tender process is needed.
Which scheme is easiest for a single school to use?+
For a government or aided school, the fastest routes are the Composite School Grant under Samagra Shiksha and CSR sponsorship. Both avoid a long approval chain. For a cluster of schools in one block, the SBM / SLWM plan through the Panchayat or ULB is usually the right vehicle.
Do these schemes pay for incinerators as well as vending machines?+
Yes. Menstrual-waste disposal is treated as part of the same infrastructure. Swachh Bharat SLWM funds, Samagra Shiksha and most state schemes explicitly cover incinerators alongside dispensers, because Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 require safe disposal of sanitary waste.
What documents does a CSR-funded installation need?+
Typically a GST tax invoice, the manufacturer's specification sheet, warranty terms, an installation completion report and photographs. Lyra provides all of these, plus our Udyam / MSME registration and HSN codes for the company's CSR audit and impact report.
Are scheme details the same every year?+
No. Scheme names, coverage, per-unit ceilings and eligibility change with each year's guidelines and vary by state. Always confirm the current-year provisions with the relevant department before finalising a proposal.
Can Lyra help prepare the procurement proposal?+
Yes. We provide formal quotations, technical specifications, compliance certificates (CPCB, ISO, SWM Rules 2016) and GeM catalogue links that can be attached directly to a DPR, AWP&B request or CSR proposal. Call +91-81223 78860 or email sales@lyraenterprise.co.in.
This guide is provided for general information for institutional buyers. Scheme names, eligibility, per-unit ceilings and coverage change with each year's guidelines and vary by state. Confirm the current-year provisions with the relevant government department before finalising a proposal. Lyra Enterprises is a manufacturer and supplier, not a government agency, and does not administer these schemes.