Odisha govt. runs Khushi Sanitary Napkin Scheme 2026 to give free sanitary pads to school girls, and the programme has now grown into a wider health scheme called KHUSI+. Health and Family Welfare Department distributes free napkins to around 17 lakh girls studying from Class 6th to Class 12th in government and government aided schools, at a yearly cost of about Rs 70 crore.
Scheme covers all 314 blocks and 5 municipal corporations of the state. Rural women can also buy napkins at subsidised rates of Rs 6 for a pack of six through ASHA workers.
Odisha Khushi Sanitary Napkin Scheme 2026
Khushi Scheme was first launched on 26 February 2018 under then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Odisha now has a BJP government led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi since June 2024, and the scheme has continued without any break under the Health and Family Welfare Department. Khushi Scheme is a major part of the state's plan to improve menstrual hygiene, cut school dropout among girls, and support women's health.
KHUSI+ Scheme - Coverage Expanded Beyond School Girls
Odisha government has expanded Khushi Scheme into KHUSI+ to also cover belted sanitary napkins for women undergoing institutional deliveries and medical termination of pregnancy at government health facilities. This addition is aimed at improving menstrual hygiene around childbirth and reducing maternal health problems in the state. As per National Family Health Survey 5, 81.5 percent of women in Odisha now use hygienic methods of menstrual protection, a rate higher than the national average.
Why Khushi Scheme Was Started
As per National Family Health Survey data, a large share of women in Odisha used to rely on unhygienic methods and cloth during menstruation. To fix this problem, state government started Khushi Scheme so that adolescent girls get free, safe sanitary napkins in schools rather than depending on unsafe alternatives.
Salient Features of Khushi Sanitary Napkin Yojana
Khushi (meaning "Happiness" in Odia) is a health and hygiene scheme run by Government of Odisha to give free sanitary pads to girl students. Main features of scheme are given below.
- Adolescent girls studying in Class 6th to 12th in government and government aided schools get 18 sanitary napkins free of cost every year.
- Scheme benefits around 17 lakh girls across the state, covering all 314 blocks and 5 municipal corporations.
- Rural women outside the school system can buy napkins at subsidised rates through ASHA workers in their community.
- Under KHUSI+, belted sanitary napkins are also given free to women during institutional deliveries and medical termination of pregnancy at government health facilities.
Khushi Scheme aims at wider use of sanitary napkins among girls and women, and helps in keeping more girls in school by reducing dropout linked to poor menstrual hygiene.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Khushi Sanitary Napkin Scheme (KHUSI+) |
| Launched By | Government of Odisha, Health and Family Welfare Department |
| Launch Year | 2018 (expanded as KHUSI+ in 2024) |
| Beneficiaries | Girls in Class 6th to 12th, and women during institutional delivery/MTP |
| Coverage | Around 17 lakh girls, all 314 blocks and 5 municipal corporations |
| Annual Cost | Around Rs 70 crore |
| Napkins Given | 18 free napkins per year to school girls |
| Rural Rate | Rs 6 for 6 napkins through ASHA workers |
| Official Website | khushi.nic.in |
Who Can Get Benefit Under Khushi Scheme
Scheme is meant mainly for adolescent girls studying in government and government aided schools of Odisha. Eligibility conditions are simple and do not need any separate application, since napkins are distributed directly through schools and health centres.
- Girl students from Class 6th to Class 12th studying in government or government aided schools across Odisha.
- Rural women who want subsidised napkins through their local ASHA worker.
- Women undergoing institutional delivery or medical termination of pregnancy at government hospitals, under KHUSI+.
Khushi Scheme Mobile App
Odisha government launched Khushi Scheme mobile app in January 2021 to manage supply of sanitary napkins. App helps in keeping proper stock of napkins at block level warehouses and allows school nodal officers to distribute pads to girl students in an organised way, keeping the supply chain clear and easy to track.
Similar Schemes in Other States
Maharashtra government also runs a similar scheme called Asmita Scheme, which gives sanitary napkins to women and girls at just Rs 5. Odisha has also launched other welfare schemes for women, including Subhadra Yojana, which gives direct cash support to women across the state.
FAQ's
Is Khushi Sanitary Napkin Scheme still active in 2026?
Yes, scheme is still running under Health and Family Welfare Department and now covers a wider group of beneficiaries through KHUSI+.
Who can get free sanitary napkins under this scheme?
Girl students from Class 6th to 12th in government and government aided schools, rural women through ASHA workers, and women undergoing institutional delivery or MTP at government hospitals.
Do students need to apply online for this scheme?
No, there is no online application. Napkins are distributed directly through schools and health facilities.
What is KHUSI+?
KHUSI+ is an expanded version of Khushi Scheme that also gives free belted sanitary napkins to women during institutional deliveries and medical termination of pregnancy at government health facilities.
How many free sanitary napkins does a student get in a year?
Eligible girl students get 18 free sanitary napkins in a year under this scheme.
Source / Reference Link: https://finance.odisha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-02/Budget%20highlights%202021-22-Eng.pdf