New Delhi, June 4 -- The Punjab government has announced the statewide expansion of a menstrual health education programme for adolescent girls in government schools, a move that officials say is aimed at improving health awareness, educational participation and gender-sensitive schooling.

The programme, launched on the occasion of Menstrual Hygiene Day, will be implemented in government high and senior secondary schools across all 23 districts of Punjab. More than 3.4 lakh girls studying in Classes VI to X are expected to be covered under the initiative.

According to the government, the programme represents one of the largest school-based menstrual health education interventions in the country.

Officials said the initiative seeks to e...