Over the past five years, the Indian National Congress (INC) has gradually increased its focus on menstrual health and hygiene, embedding the issue within its broader efforts around women’s rights, public health, and social justice. While not always the headline issue, menstrual hygiene has consistently found space within Congress’s campaigns, manifestos, and youth activism.
Campaign Integration: "Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon" (2021–2022)
One of the most notable efforts came during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led the “Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon” campaign.
This campaign went beyond slogans and brought attention to the everyday challenges faced by women—including menstrual health. The Congress manifesto under this campaign promised greater gender representation in politics and emphasized the need to destigmatize menstruation and improve access to hygiene products, particularly for young girls and low-income women.
Youth-Led Advocacy: Angellica Aribam’s Work
Congress youth leader and activist Angellica Aribam played a key role in pushing menstrual hygiene into the spotlight. After being detained during a protest in 2015 and denied access to sanitary products in custody, she began advocating for the provision of sanitary pads in prisons and police stations.
Her work brought national attention to how menstruation is treated in state institutions and helped shape internal conversations within the party on these overlooked areas.
Policy Mentions
While the party hasn’t launched a large-scale national scheme specifically dedicated to menstrual hygiene in the past five years, it has included menstrual health as a component of its larger vision for women’s health and dignity. In speeches, rallies, and manifestos, party leaders have touched upon access to hygiene, school dropout prevention, and healthcare reforms tied to women’s daily realities—including periods.