India, June 4 -- The Punjab government has launched a statewide menstrual health education initiative aimed at adolescent girls in government schools, in a move intended to strengthen girls' education, adolescent health and gender-sensitive learning environments.

Announced on the occasion of Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, the programme will be rolled out across government high and senior secondary schools in all 23 districts of the state. The initiative is expected to directly benefit more than 3.4 lakh girls studying in Classes VI to X in over 3,600 government schools.

Officials described the programme as one of India's largest school-based menstrual health education initiatives and said it is designed to improve awareness, confidenc...