Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 | Menstrual Health Fundamental Right under Article 21: SC | Kalbelia Community

Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance

Context

• NITI Aayog launched Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 campaign.

Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0

• It is aimed at achieving saturation of critical development indicators in Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks across the country.
• The campaign targets 112 Aspirational Districts and 513 Aspirational Blocks to achieve specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

For Aspirational Blocks (6 KPIs):

• Nutrition: Regular supplementary nutrition for children (6 months to 6 years) under ICDS.
• Monitoring: Monthly measurement efficiency of children at Anganwadi Centres.
• Infrastructure: Operational Anganawadi Centres with functional toilets and drinking water.
• Education: Adequate girls’ toilet facilities in schools.
• Agriculture: Vaccination of bovine animals for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

For Aspirational Districts (5 KPIs):

• Focuses on health, nutrition, and education, including increasing the number of babies weighed at birth and improving tuberculosis (TB) case

Additional Information – Aspirational Districts Programme

• It was launched in 2018
• Objective – to quickly and effectively transform 112 districts across the country.
• Focuses on five themes: Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development and Infrastructure.

Aspirational Blocks Programme

• It was launched in 2023
• It aims for the saturation of essential government services in 513 Blocks (329 Districts) across the country.
• Focuses on five themes: Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Allied Services, Basic Infrastructure and Social Development.

Menstrual Health Fundamental Right under Article 21: SC

Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance

Context

• In Dr. Jaya Thakur v. Union of India, the Supreme Court has ruled that the right to menstrual hygiene is an integral part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Key Highlights of Judicial Intervention

• Fundamental Right: Menstrual health is now legally recognized as an essential facet of the Right to Life (Art. 21) and the Right to Education (Art. 21A).
• Free Bio-degradable Pads: All government and private schools must provide free bio-degradable sanitary napkins to girl students (Classes 6–12).
• Mandatory Infrastructure: Schools must have functional, gender-segregated toilets with water connectivity. Non-compliance can lead to the de-recognition of private schools.
• Stigma Reduction: The court mandated NCERT to incorporate gender-responsive curricula to educate both boys and girls, breaking the “hushed whispers” culture.

Article 21 of Constitution

• Article 21 is part of the Fundamental Rights, Part III of the Constitution.
• It is guaranteed to all persons, citizens and non-citizens
• No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.
• It places a restriction on the state from arbitrarily interfering with a person’s life and liberty.
• Expanded scope through Supreme Court judgments: Over time, courts have interpreted it to also impose positive obligations on the state to ensure a dignified life.

1. Right to live with human dignity;
2. Right to privacy (Puttaswamy, 2017);
3. Right to livelihood (Olga Tellis);
4. Right to health and medical care;
5. Right to clean environment;
6. Right to legal aid and speedy trial;
7. Right to education (later made explicit via Article 21A);
8. Protection against custodial torture;
9. Right to sleep, shelter and food.

Menstrual Health Related Policy of Government of India

• Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS): Supported by National Health Mission (NHM). ASHAs distribute packs of 6 napkins (Freedays) at a subsidized rate of ₹6.
• PM Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna: Over 16,000 Kendras provide ‘Suvidha’ (Oxo-biodegradable pads) at ₹1 per pad.
• Samagra Shiksha: Funds the installation of vending machines and incinerators. States must now prioritize bio-degradable options following the 2026 SC ruling.
• Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase 2: Focuses on Menstrual Waste Management (MWM) using small-scale incinerators and deep burial pits to prevent environmental clogging.
• Menstrual Hygiene Policy (2024-25): Formulated by the Ministry of Health, it streamlines access to low-cost products, prioritizes “Green” (biodegradable) initiatives, and integrates MHM into the formal school curriculum.
• Standardization of  Products: The Department of Health Research is studying sustainable alternatives like menstrual cups and recyclable pads to evaluate their safety and feas ibility among rural women.

Kalbelia Community

Syllabus: GS1/Population

In News

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Rajasthan government over protests by the Kalbelia community in Barmer, who placed a dead body on the road demanding a designated burial ground.

Kalbeliyas

• Kalbelia are a snake charming folk community from the region of Rajasthan, India.
• Their traditional occupation used to be catching snakes and trading snake venom.
• They are known for their vibrant dances and black embroidered attire.
• In 2010, their songs and dances were added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, recognizing them as a key marker of identity as the community adapts to changing social and economic conditions.

Do you know?

• The Kalbelia dance, also called Sapera dance, is a folk dance central to Kalbelia culture, a nomadic tribe traditionally known as snake charmers.
• The dance reflects their close association with snakes through movements and costumes.