The Tamil Nadu government has approved ₹113.10 crore for menstrual hygiene programs in 2024-25, said Advocate General P.S. Raman before the Madras High Court on Wednesday. The funding covers rural and urban areas. However, sanitary napkins have not been declared an essential commodity under the law. Mr. Raman stated that some schemes already provide sanitary napkins free or at subsidised rates to select groups of women, including adolescent girls. The government allocates significant budget funds every year for these efforts. The judges, from the first Division Bench led by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, asked for more details on how the program might be extended to a larger group of women. They requested data on the percentage of women living below the poverty line (BPL) and those above BPL but in economically weaker sections. This information must be submitted by January 27, 2026. The court intends to use this data to possibly issue new directions and bridge gaps in access. They also want to know the added financial cost if these groups are included in the menstrual hygiene schemes.