Notwithstanding a directive from the University Grant Commission (UGC), most  universities and colleges in Madhya Pradesh have not installed sanitary napkin incinerators and vending machines in their girls’ hostels and campuses.

In a bid to speed up the nationwide ‘Swachh Bharat’ and ‘Swasth Bharat’ campaigns, the  UGC secretary on 21 June wrote a DO (demi official) letter to all universities and departments of higher education of all states and Union territories to ensure installation of sanitary napkin incinerators and vending machines in colleges, university campuses and women’s hostels.

The UGC stated in its letter that the improper disposal of menstrual waste is a major roadblock for achieving Swachh Bharat Mission’s goal of a clean India.

However, the higher education department of the MP government hasn’t even asked colleges to instal incinerators and vending machines. Most universities in the state have also done little to set up the equipment.

Principals of many colleges run by the department of higher education government of Madhya Pradesh said no letter or instructions have been received yet regarding the installation of such equipment.

“No letter has come yet in this regard, I will check it,” said BR Naidu, Additional Chief Secretary, department of higher education in MP. Barkatullah University, situated in Bhopal, and Jiwaji University in Gwalior, which has been awarded ‘A’ grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), have also not installed either incinerators or vending machines.

Raja Man Singh Music University, Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Agriculture University, Abdhesh Pratap Singh University, Rewa, and other universities of the state have also not installed such equipment.

Dr Hari Singh Gour Central University in Sagar, Devi Ahilya University in Indore and Jawaharlal University in Jabalpur have only installed such equipment in their girls’ hostels but not in campuses where there is considerable movement of women students.

Officiating vice-chancellor of Jiwaji University Prof RJ Rao, and registrar of Barkatullah University Prof Uday Shukla said they have started the process of installing the machines.

SK Biswas, registrar, Dr Hari Singh Gour Central University, said two incinerators along with vending machines are being installed in the two girls hostels in the campus.

There are 14 state, two central, four deemed and four private universities in the state but only three have installed these machines in their women’s hostels premises.