The Supreme Court has recognised menstrual health as a fundamental right under Article 21 and has directed all government and private schools to provide separate toilets, clean water, free biodegradable sanitary pads and safe disposal facilities.Also read -In Ludhiana, government schools are ensuring that girl students receive sanitary napkins free of cost, most importantly, in case of emergencies. However, in most private schools, students are still being charged between Rs 2 and Rs 5 per napkin. Following the recent directions of the Apex Court, private school managements have said they will comply with the orders.Talking to The Tribune, Charanjit Kaur, Principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Cemetery Road, said there was no shortage of sanitary napkins in government schools. “We receive sanitary napkins regularly from the government. In addition, NGOs also donate them from time to time. Due to limited storage space in school almirahs, which are also used for books and other material, we call the mothers of girl students to collect the packets. However, we also keep some stock on the school premises for emergencies,” she said.A Class X student of PAU School, requesting anonymity, said there was still stigma attached to menstruation and girls often felt hesitant to ask for sanitary napkins in co-educational schools. “Though the school authorities keep napkins for emergencies, we friends make sure that one or two napkins are always kept in our school bags,” she said.Daljit Samrala, a senior lecturer at Government Senior Secondary School, Samrala, and president of the Democratic Teachers Forum, said sanitary napkins had never been an issue in government schools. “We receive ample stocks periodically. Separate washrooms for girls and boys are available and proper disposal facilities are provided to girl students,” he said.The district nodal officer on the subject, Kamaljit Kaur, said there was no shortage of sanitary napkins in government schools. “Stocks are received in trucks and distributed to schools according to the strength of girl students. Through the e-portal, the number of girls in each school is assessed and supplies are sent accordingly,” she said.In private schools, sanitary napkins are generally available in sick rooms. Gunjan (name changed), a student of a reputed private school in Sarabha Nagar, said she was charged Rs 5 for a napkin when she was taken to the sick room after getting her periods. “I paid for it as it was urgently required,” she said.At present, most private schools continue to charge for sanitary napkins. However, Harmit Kaur Waraich, Principal, Nankana Sahib Public School, said that in compliance with the Supreme Court’s recent guidelines, the school would now start distributing sanitary napkins free of cost.