Northern Railways and Indus Towers Expand Menstrual Hygiene Access at 175 Stations

Northern Railways and telecom infrastructure company Indus Towers have jointly launched a major initiative to improve women's access to sanitary hygiene products across their network. The partnership, operating under Indus Towers' Nari Samman program, has deployed 500 vending machines stocked with sanitary napkins at railway stations spanning five divisions: Delhi, Firozpur, Ambala, Moradabad, and Lucknow.

The machines, equipped with Internet of Things monitoring technology, have distributed approximately 3 crore sanitary napkins since their installation. Women travelers can access the products free of charge at any time of day or night, addressing a significant gap in public infrastructure.

Nari Samman functions as part of Indus Towers' broader Pragati initiative, which aims to create sustainable systems centred on awareness, access, and community engagement. The program aligns with India's national priorities on women's health, particularly the Government of India's Menstrual Hygiene Scheme under the National Health Mission.

Rajesh Kumar Pandey, General Manager of Northern Railways, emphasised the importance of the collaboration. "Indian Railways transports millions of passengers daily, including countless women and girls who rely on the network for employment, education, and medical services," he stated. "Our commitment to passenger comfort, safety, and dignity makes this partnership with Indus Towers a meaningful step toward more inclusive public spaces. It demonstrates our dedication to embedding social value within railway infrastructure."

Tejinder Kalra, Chief Operating Officer of Indus Towers, highlighted the company's technical expertise in executing the programme. "This large-scale deployment across one of India's most heavily used railway zones showcases Indus Towers' capability to deliver resilient, technology-driven solutions for social benefit," he said. "When essential services are seamlessly woven into everyday environments such as railway stations, dignity becomes integrated into routine experiences, and we are pleased to contribute to this transformation."

The initiative complements existing efforts by Indian Railways to enhance travel safety and dignity for women passengers. Combined with women-only coaches and ongoing improvements to station facilities and sanitation standards, the menstrual hygiene infrastructure represents a comprehensive approach to women-centric railway amenities.

Indus Towers has set an ambitious target to positively affect over 150 million lives through its corporate social responsibility programmes by 2030.