Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Tuesday called for wider use and promotion of menstrual cups as an alternative to sanitary napkins, citing their high cost and adverse environmental impact. In a press release, Balagopal said menstrual cups ensure better personal hygiene while also contributing to sustainable waste management practices. ADVERTISEMENTThe minister was speaking after inaugurating the state-level launch of a Haritha Kerala Mission project aimed at distributing menstrual cups and installing incinerators across the state. Balagopal said the allocation of funds for menstrual cups and incinerators in the state budget had drawn attention from across the country. As part of the programme, an awareness session on the use of menstrual cups and the operation of incinerators was conducted, the release said.

Source: The Telegraph January 20, 2026 15:31 UTC