Uttar Pradesh’s Education and Health Departments have started a pilot distribution of biodegradable sanitary pads made from banana fibre in government schools across Kanpur and Varanasi. Produced by a women’s SHG, these pads decompose within six months and contain no plastic. Schools have also been equipped with incinerators powered by solar panels. Female students were trained on menstrual hygiene and disposal practices. The initiative aims to tackle dropout rates among girls due to lack of hygiene access. Surveys showed a 30% increase in attendance post-distribution. Officials plan to include menstrual hygiene sessions in biology curriculum and promote local SHG pad production for scale.