Kerala to install sanitary pad vending machines at public places

Pilot scheme will offer packs of three pads for Rs 10 at 14 KSRTC locations, with plans to expand to tourist destinations and other public spaces.

Published on:

07 Oct 2026, 1:09 pm

KOCHI : For women and girls travelling across Kerala, access to menstrual hygiene products is set to become easier under a government scheme bringing sanitary pad vending machines to bus stations.

The Women and Child Development Department will launch the initiative, WOMN — Women on the Move & Menstrual Needs, on Tuesday as part of the state government’s 100-day action programme, according to an official release.

The pilot will cover 14 Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) terminals and depots. Each pack of three sanitary pads will cost Rs 10. Incinerators will also be installed to provide a means of disposing of used pads.

The scheme aims to address a practical need for women and girls on the move: being able to obtain menstrual hygiene products while travelling.

The department plans to extend the initiative to major tourist destinations, more KSRTC terminals and depots, and other public places across the state.

Women and Child Development Minister Bindu Krishna will inaugurate the project at the Thampanoor KSRTC bus terminal in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.

Summary

Kerala's Women and Child Development Department is launching a scheme to install sanitary pad vending machines at public places, starting with 14 KSRTC terminals. The initiative, WOMN, aims to improve access to menstrual hygiene products for women and girls on the move, with pads priced at Rs 10 and incinerators for disposal.