Chandigarh, November 20, 2025: The Punjab government’s flagship ‘Navi Disha’ scheme has placed the state at the forefront of women’s health reform, with a record ₹54 crore spent on free sanitary pads this year — the highest for any state in India.
Unlike previous schemes that existed largely on files, the Mann government’s model has delivered consistent, quality-controlled sanitary pads to 13.65 lakh women, supported by a digital monitoring system that tracks every packet distributed.
Officials said the scheme’s success lies in its complete break from the Congress-era Udaan scheme, which cost nearly ₹40.55 crore annually but faced widespread criticism from women for “poor, smelly, uncomfortable pads” that caused rashes or infections. “Money was spent, but dignity was never protected,” a beneficiary said.
The Mann government responded by upgrading quality standards, ensuring pads are premium-grade, safe and completely biodegradable. With a robust network of 27,313 Anganwadi centres, Punjab now guarantees monthly supplies to women across districts — a consistency lacking in larger states like UP, Bihar, Odisha and MP.
A senior official said Punjab’s delivery system is “the only one with real-time oversight”, eliminating stock-outs and duplication. “The state has created the most transparent women’s health supply chain in India,” he added.
Women across Punjab say the scheme has reshaped their confidence. Gurpreet Kaur, a daily-wage earner, said, “Earlier during those days, going to work was impossible. Now pads arrive at home every month. This one change has restored our dignity.”
The government said Navi Disha is not just a welfare scheme but a model of governance driven by accountability and respect. By placing women’s health at the centre, they said, Punjab has moved “miles ahead of other states”.
