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The newly installed automatic sanitary napkin vending machine at SKV Enterprise, petrol pump in Kohima.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 1 (EMN): In a move to counter the ‘social stigma’ associated with menstruation, the first automatic sanitary napkin vending machine was launched at SKV Enterprise near the War Cemetery in Kohima on Monday.
The installation of the vending machine, an initiative of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Ltd., is to ‘create awareness about women’s health and to empower women’ in the state capital with easy access to sanitary napkins.
With the installation, sanitary napkin will be available at a cheap price of INR 5 for a single pad. In 2016, a similar vending machine was installed at Guwahati Press Club which was sponsored by Junior Chamber International Guwahati Angels.
In Kohima, additional deputy commissioner, Lithrongla Rutsa, unveiled the facility. Following the installation at SKV Enterprise, similar machines were also unveiled at other IOC fuel retail outlets in Kohima viz. Avilie petrol pump, Sekhose servicing centre and Theja petrol pump.
The deputy general manager (Retail Sales) Tinsukia division officer, IOC Ltd. MKK Pegoo during the launching programme said, IOC has initiated the venture with the primary objective to empower its prospective customers, especially the women drivers.
Pegoo also informed that more of such machines would be installed across the state in the future.
Appreciating the IOC’s initiation, Rutsa suggested the DGM to install such machines in schools, colleges, marketing complex, public places, if there is any provision available, so that women of all ages can have easy access.
Giving a brief highlight of IOC, state level coordinator, Nagaland, N Kashung said out of the total 61 fuel outlets across the state, 49 fuel outlets belongs to IOC with 11 outlets in Kohima town alone.
He also reiterated that more automatic sanitary napkin vending machine would be installed in all the IOC fuel outlets across the state in the coming days.
