Kathmandu, March 8

A group of women staged a demonstration in Kathmandu on Monday on the occasion of the International Women’s Day demanding the government remove the tax levied on sanitary pads claiming the pads are a basic need.

Although many countries have already begun distributing sanitary pads for free, Nepal imposed a 13 per cent value-added tax on these items. Various women’s groups have been protesting the provision, but the government has not changed it yet.

Therefore, activists associated with the Samrakshak Samuha Nepal staged a demonstration at Maitighar Mandala and showed placards and banners where various slogans about the need for sanitary pads were written.