Officials from the South Western Railways say the machine was misplaced during renovation work in June 2023.
No sanitary pad vending machines can be seen in the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) and Yeswanthpur railway stations though the South Western Railway has said that the machines have been installed in the ladies waiting rooms.
Officials said that the machines had been installed, but were later removed. An official from the South Western Railway said, “the pad vending machine was there till June 2023 but after renovation work we don’t know where it is.” The renovation work was completed in June 2023, she said.
A caretaker of the ladies waiting room of KSR railway station agreed that there was a sanitary pad vending machine in the room. However, she said that it did not work so the workers who were renovating the waiting room took it.
Nivedya, a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) student waiting for her train said, “Sanitary pads are very essential for girls and sometimes in case of emergency while we are travelling, we need it in public places but there is no sanitary pad vending machines installed in public places by the government. ”
Charlotte, a National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) aspirant who arrived at KSR railway station to visit Bangalore asked, “Where are we supposed to get pads from in case of an emergency? It would be so much better, If we can get a pad at Rs 5 through vending machines, rather than buying the whole packet.”
Sweta and Pinky, medical science students, travelling from Yeshwanthpur railway station said, “If I forget to take pads with me, it helps to have a sanitary vending machine in the railway station so that we can get a pad at a cheaper price also.”
Dr. Priya. T.Nandimath, Public Health Expert said that every woman faces the need for pads in emergency situations, therefore to have pad vending machines in public places such as railway station is very useful.
“It is a great initiative for the women travellers as it focuses on women’s health and hygiene, and also just having sanitary pad vending machines is not enough, proper disposal of the used pad is equally important,” she said.
Dr. Nandimath added that the railways department should put incinerators in waiting rooms as well as inside the trains, they should also provide affordable and eco-friendly sanitary pads.
According to reports published in 2018, KSR and Yeshwanthpur railway stations will have sanitary pad vending machines as well as an incinerator for disposal of pads. On a trial basis they installed a sanitary pad vending machine in a restroom of the Divisional Railway Manager’s office. The machines sponsored by the South Western Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation (SWRWWO), were inaugurated on Women’s Day in 2018 in KSR and Yeshwantpur railway stations.
The press release of the South Western Railway screenshot on March 2023.
According to a press release by South Western Railway 20 sanitary pad vending machines were installed at 20 major railway stations in the Hubballi, Mysuru and Bengaluru divisions on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2023.
