Respected PIO: Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, \n\nBACKGROUND: \n\nIt is a matter of common knowledge that the Girls staying in Hostels of All Higher Education institutes/ organizations use following disposal practices for disposal of SANITARY NAPKINS/ Menstrual wastes[dot] These are: 1) Wrap them in paper/ plastic bag and throw them outside 2) Drying, wrap in paper/plastic bag and throw in dustbins (mostly non-rural) 3) Throw them in latrine / toilets[dot] Such practices are polluting the environment with its non-biodegradable content and inorganic components[dot] \n\nHowever, National Guidelines developed by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India on Menstrual Hygiene Management- December 2015, says that these all are UNSAFE practices[dot] Government guidelines indicate disposal by only deep burial and incineration for commercial sanitary napkins with plastics[dot] Said guideline is attached with this application[dot] \n\nIf we do not begin to address this issue now, we will have volume of non-biodegradable waste that will take hundreds of years to degrade and will pose a big hazard to health as well as environment[dot] \n\nSo, there is dire need to issue instructions to all Higher Education institutes/ organizations, so that the concerned administration can make necessary arrangements for proper disposal of sanitary napkins[dot] \n\nWith this background please provide me the following information:\n\n1[dot] Documents/ records depicting the directions issued (if any) to the Higher Education institutes/ Organizations across the country to carry out proper disposal of SANITARY NAPKINS/ MENSTRUAL waste of the girls staying in hostels of Higher Education institutes/ organizations, as per the National Guidelines developed by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India on Menstrual Hygiene Management- December 2015[dot]\n\n2[dot] Documents depicting any other efforts taken by the Ministry of Human Resource Department, so that the girls staying in hostels of Higher Education institutes/ organizations carry out proper disposal of sanitary napkins/ menstrual waste[dot] \n\nNOTE: My humble intention is just to bring this serious issue before Honble Ministry, so that all concerned person could be made aware about it and take necessary action at their end[dot] \n\nYours sincerely,\n\nDr[dot] INDRAJIT KHANDEKAR (MBBS, MD, LBB)[dot]\nProfessor and In-charge of Clinical Forensic Medicine Unit[dot] Department of Forensic Medicine at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (MGIMS) Sewagram[dot]Dist- Wardha[dot] Pin- 442102[dot] \nMobile- 9823029293, Email- drindrajitkhandekar[at]gmail[dot]com[dot]