Arunachal Pradesh Girl Students Health & Hygiene Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Girl Students Health & Hygiene Scheme is a state government initiative implemented by the Department of School Education, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. The scheme was announced in 2013 with the clear objective of supporting adolescent girl students so that they do not miss school during their menstrual periods. Official scheme documents state that the focus is to help girl students “ retain, maintain hygiene and continue education throughout the year.” Alongside school retention, the scheme also aims to increase awareness among adolescent girls about menstrual hygiene - a subject that is still rarely discussed openly in many rural and remote areas of the state.

Under the scheme, every eligible girl student receives financial assistance of ₹50 per month. The department credits the full year’s amount (₹600) directly to the beneficiary’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). In several districts, the department follows an alternative route of central procurement of sanitary napkins, which are then distributed free of cost by the schools. In both cases, the girl student and her family do not have to bear any cost.

The scheme continues to remain active. The Gender Budget of Arunachal Pradesh for 2026-27 shows continued financial allocation for the Girls' Health & Hygiene Scheme under Elementary Education. An amount of ₹15,000 thousand (₹1.5 crore) has been allocated for the Girls' Health & Hygiene Scheme (Sanitary Napkins) under the Chief Minister's Flagship Programme (CMFP), covering 25,000 women beneficiaries. In the same department and under the same Chief Minister's Flagship Programme (CMFP), the Vidya Scheme has also received a significant allocation of ₹681,800 thousand (₹68.18 crore) for 68,823 women beneficiaries. Both schemes together account for a total allocation of ₹696,800 thousand under Elementary Education in the Gender Budget 2026-27.

Through financial assistance or free sanitary napkins, along with menstrual hygiene awareness, the scheme aims to ensure that menstruation does not become a barrier to regular school attendance and education. It provides continued support to eligible girl students while encouraging better menstrual hygiene practices and helping them remain engaged in their education throughout the academic year.

Scheme Benefits

Under the Arunachal Pradesh Girl Students Health & Hygiene Scheme, the following benefits are provided to the girl students:

• ₹50 per month as an incentive to every girl student of classes VI to XII.
• ₹600 in a year, since the scheme covers all 12 months of the year.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) sends the amount straight to the girl student's own bank account.
• The full year's amount is credited to the beneficiary's account in Government schools.
• Free sanitary napkins, where the district supplies them instead of cash; the school distributes them to the girl students.
• No application form and no fee at any stage of the scheme.
• Menstrual hygiene awareness among adolescent girls, which the scheme carries along with the incentive.

Eligibility Requirements

To avail the benefits of the scheme, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

• The beneficiary must be a girl student.
• She must study in Class VI to Class XII.
• She must be enrolled in a Government school or a Government-aided school of Arunachal Pradesh.
• She must be a resident of Arunachal Pradesh.

Required Documents

• School Identity Card proving admission in a Government or Government-aided school.
• Aadhaar Card of the girl student
• Bank account details 

Steps to Apply

• No application form is required under the Girl Students Health & Hygiene Scheme.
• Eligible girl students do not need to fill out or submit any form to receive the benefits.
• Sanitary napkins are provided to eligible girl students directly by their schools.
• The entire process is managed at the school level.
• In case of any difficulty in receiving the benefit, the girl student may contact the Director of Elementary and Secondary Education of her district.

Important Links

• Girl Students Health & Hygiene Scheme Guidelines
• Department of Education, Arunachal Pradesh

Contact Details

• Department of Education, Arunachal Pradesh Helpline Number: 0360-2212345
• Department of Education, Helpdesk Email: [email protected]