New Delhi: In a significant move to improve women’s health and hygiene, Northern Railways sanitary napkin vending machines have been installed at 175 railway stations across North India. The initiative, implemented in partnership with Indus Towers under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme Nari Samman, aims to provide free and round-the-clock access to sanitary napkins for millions of women passengers.

The project includes the installation of 500 IoT-enabled sanitary napkin vending machines across railway stations in the Delhi, Lucknow, Ambala, Moradabad, and Firozpur divisions. According to the company, these machines have already dispensed nearly 3 crore sanitary napkins, helping improve menstrual hygiene and making railway travel safer and more comfortable for women.

The Northern Railways sanitary napkin vending machines initiative reflects a growing focus on creating gender-inclusive public infrastructure and ensuring that women have access to essential hygiene facilities during travel.

A Major Step Towards Women’s Health

The installation of Northern Railways sanitary napkin vending machines is expected to benefit millions of women and girls who travel daily by train for work, education, healthcare, and personal commitments. Easy access to menstrual hygiene products at railway stations can significantly reduce inconvenience, especially during long-distance journeys.

The vending machines operate 24×7 and are equipped with Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring systems that help authorities track machine performance, refill requirements, and maintenance in real time. This technology ensures uninterrupted availability of sanitary napkins at busy railway stations.

By introducing Northern Railways sanitary napkin vending machines, railway authorities are addressing a long-standing need for accessible menstrual hygiene facilities in public transport infrastructure.

Partnership Between Northern Railways and Indus Towers

The initiative has been launched through a partnership between Northern Railways and Indus Towers, one of the world’s leading telecom infrastructure companies. The project forms part of Indus Towers’ flagship CSR programme Pragati, under which the Nari Samman initiative focuses on menstrual hygiene awareness, improved access to sanitary products, and community engagement.

The collaboration combines the operational strength of Northern Railways with Indus Towers’ expertise in deploying technology-enabled infrastructure. Together, they have successfully established Northern Railways sanitary napkin vending machines across multiple high-footfall railway stations.

Officials believe this partnership demonstrates how public institutions and private companies can work together to improve public welfare through sustainable social infrastructure.

Supporting Government Initiatives

The Northern Railways sanitary napkin vending machines programme aligns closely with the Government of India’s Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) under the National Health Mission. The scheme promotes awareness about menstrual hygiene while improving access to affordable and hygienic sanitary products for women and adolescent girls.

By integrating sanitary napkin vending machines into railway stations, the initiative supports the government’s larger objective of promoting women’s health, dignity, and gender-sensitive public services.

Experts believe such public-private partnerships can play an important role in reducing menstrual hygiene challenges, particularly for women who travel frequently or come from economically weaker backgrounds.

Railway Officials Highlight Women’s Safety and Dignity

Rajesh Kumar Pandey, General Manager of Northern Railways, said Indian Railways serves millions of passengers every day, including a large number of women and girls who depend on trains for education, employment, healthcare, and family responsibilities.

He stated that ensuring comfort, safety, and dignity for women passengers remains a top priority. According to him, the installation of Northern Railways sanitary napkin vending machines represents an important milestone in making railway stations more inclusive and supportive for women travelers.

He added that integrating meaningful social initiatives into railway infrastructure strengthens Indian Railways’ commitment to public welfare.

Indus Towers Focuses on Social Infrastructure

Tejinder Kalra, Chief Operating Officer of Indus Towers Ltd., said the company has extensive experience in deploying resilient technology-enabled infrastructure across India. He noted that the same operational excellence has now been extended to social infrastructure through the installation of Northern Railways sanitary napkin vending machines.

According to Kalra, providing menstrual hygiene products in everyday public spaces allows dignity and accessibility to become part of the daily travel experience. He emphasized that the partnership reflects Indus Towers’ commitment to creating long-term social impact through innovative CSR programmes.

The company has set an ambitious goal of positively impacting over 150 million lives by 2030 through its CSR initiatives.

Strengthening Women-Friendly Railway Infrastructure

The Northern Railways sanitary napkin vending machines complement several women-focused initiatives already introduced by Indian Railways. These include women-reserved coaches, improved station sanitation, enhanced lighting, CCTV surveillance, better waiting rooms, and upgraded passenger amenities.

Adding menstrual hygiene infrastructure further strengthens the overall ecosystem designed to make railway travel more comfortable, safer, and inclusive for women.

Women’s rights advocates have long stressed that access to menstrual hygiene products is an essential public health requirement rather than a luxury. Making sanitary napkins freely available at railway stations can reduce discomfort and improve travel confidence for women across all age groups.

Technology Ensures Better Service Delivery

One of the unique features of the Northern Railways sanitary napkin vending machines is their IoT-enabled monitoring system. Unlike conventional vending machines, these devices can automatically report stock levels, machine health, and operational status.

This digital monitoring reduces downtime and allows maintenance teams to quickly address technical issues, ensuring uninterrupted availability of sanitary napkins at stations with heavy passenger traffic.

Technology-driven infrastructure also improves accountability and operational efficiency, making CSR projects more sustainable over the long term.

Improving Public Health Through Accessibility

Public health experts have consistently highlighted that limited access to menstrual hygiene products remains a challenge for many women, particularly during travel. The deployment of Northern Railways sanitary napkin vending machines addresses this issue by making essential hygiene products available free of cost at accessible public locations.

As railway stations witness millions of daily footfalls, the initiative has the potential to improve menstrual hygiene awareness while reducing stigma associated with menstruation.

The project also demonstrates how public infrastructure can be designed to meet practical health needs while promoting dignity and gender equality.

The installation of Northern Railways sanitary napkin vending machines across 175 railway stations marks a major step towards building a more inclusive railway network for women. With 500 IoT-enabled machines already dispensing nearly 3 crore sanitary napkins, the initiative is improving access to essential menstrual hygiene products for millions of passengers.

By combining technology, public infrastructure, and corporate social responsibility, Northern Railways and Indus Towers are helping create safer, healthier, and more dignified travel experiences for women. As similar initiatives expand across the country, they are expected to play an increasingly important role in promoting menstrual hygiene, women’s health, and gender-inclusive public services.