On July 21, India scrapped a controversial sanitary napkin tax, a move welcomed by activists who said it would help more girls in the country, the Japan Times reported. attend school regularly during menstruation and improve their employment prospects.

Campaigners say scrapping the tax on sanitary napkins tackles one of the biggest barriers to girls' education. Without access to clean hygiene and care supplies, girls are often forced to stay at home while also facing stigma and a lack of toilets in schools.

In India, four out of five women and girls do not have access to sanitary napkins, campaigners say, which is one of the main factors causing girls to drop out of school.

"I am sure all mothers and sisters will be happy to hear that sanitary napkins are now 100 percent tax-free," interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters at a press conference in New Delhi. /p>

According to the goods and services tax levied in India in July 2017, the tax rate on sanitary napkins is 12%. The decision prompted police, police and court cases to question why sanitary pads were taxed as a luxury item, rather than as a tax-free necessity like condoms.

Last year, Congress MP Sushmita Dev launched a campaign to reduce or completely remove taxes on sanitary napkins, citing the fact that about 70% of women in India Can't afford these taxes. This online *** book has received more than 400,000 signatures.

Padman, Bollywood's first film about menstrual hygiene, sparked debate on the taboo subject after its release earlier this year. The film stars one of India's most popular action heroes, Akshay Kumar.

Kumar is part of a campaign called 'Niine', which promotes menstrual hygiene to help increase the number of women using sanitary napkins. Amar Tursyan, founder of the movement, called the July 21 decision a major victory for everyone in India. He said: "82% of women and girls in India do not have sanitary napkins. The tax exemption is a huge boost."