Student activist urges Tanzania to waive VAT on sanitary pads for schoolgirls

Dodoma. The founder of the HERNEEDS programme, Arjun Kaur Mittal, has appealed to the Tanzanian government to consider waiving the 18 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on sanitary pads to make them more affordable for students.

Mittal, a Tanzanian student currently pursuing further studies in Dubai, made the plea during a recent courtesy visit to Speaker of Parliament Dr Tulia Ackson.

Mittal argued that reducing prices would significantly enhance the distribution of sanitary pads among schoolgirls nationwide, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds.

Her initiative, HERNEEDS, has been active for the past three years, providing sanitary pads to students in 33 secondary schools in Arusha with support from both local and international donors.

During the meeting, Dr Ackson expressed concern over the price hikes by traders, even though the government had previously waived VAT on sanitary pads.

She criticized this malpractice for undermining the government's efforts to make sanitary products more accessible.

Dr Ackson commended Mittal and her father, Atul Mittal, Director of Mount Meru Petroleum and Millers, for their dedication through the HERNEEDS initiative.

She urged other students to follow Mittal's example and assured that Parliament would continue to advocate for reinstating the VAT exemption to improve accessibility to sanitary pads for schoolgirls.

The Speaker expressed optimism that the HERNEEDS programme would help address menstrual health challenges, allowing students to attend classes without interruption.

The government is currently reviewing VAT policies on sanitary products to ensure that essential goods remain accessible to all students, thereby supporting their uninterrupted education.