Why Global Citizens Should Care
Tax-free sanitary napkins is a small step towards a much longer journey of making menstrual health and hygiene accessible to women across India. Global Citizen India advocates for making menstrual health and hygiene a state priority. You can contibute to the cause by taking action here.

In a landmark judgment on Saturday, the government of India finally exempted sanitary pads of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The application of the tax on sanitary products has been in the eye of controversy since the launch of the GST in 2017. Sanitary products were taxed at 12% — a move that was highly criticised by campaigners, activists, and masses alike.

Take ActionCall on India’s State Governments to Prioritize Menstrual Hygiene

India has a population of more than 355 million menstruating women, 88% of whom use unsafe sanitary products to manage their periods due to lack of awareness and capital access.

Under the GST, sanitary pads were not considered a tax-free essential item, thus making them unaffordable for over 70% menstruating women.

Read MoreThis Company Is Leading the Reusable Cloth Pad Revolution in India

Various organisations and individuals have taken up the fight against taxation of sanitary napkins.

SheSays India, founded by social activist and United Nation's SDG Ambassador Trisha Shetty, launched a campaign #LahuKaLagaan in 2016 to advocate for tax-free sanitary napkins.

Individual efforts, like the petition filed by lawmaker Sushmita Dev, also garnered mass support and over 4,000,000 signatures to demand tax-free menstrual products.

Menstrual health and hygiene has also found voice in pop culture, with films like Padman bringing the conversation around pads and menstruation to the mainstream.

A welcome culmination of multiple efforts, the decision of making pads tax-free was celebrated across platforms and forums where people expressed their relief and joy at the move.

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By Asmita Joshi