11,000 Voices at the Door of Nepal's Parliament to remove VAT on all Menstrual Products

Nepal's national budget is one of the most consequential moments in the fiscal calendar, and for those of us fighting to permanently remove VAT on menstrual products, the weeks leading up to it are a critical window. This year we walked through parliament's doors and asked for the removal of VAT on all menstrual products, to ensure affordability and access

In a collaborative effort with Speak Up Nepal, Pad2Go participated in parliamentary engagement meetings with sitting Members of Parliament ahead of the federal budget. We submitted:

• Formal policy document carrying our recommendations,

• Our RaatoKarMaafGar petition bearing over 10,000 signatures from people across Nepal who believe menstrual health is a right, not a luxury.

• Information on the Supreme Court of Nepal's recent judgement (June 2025) directing the government to remove VAT on menstrual Products.

Who we have met so far:

We were grateful for the time and genuine engagement of three parliamentarians whose portfolios and convictions intersect directly with this cause.

1. Anushka Shrestha

Member of Parliament

2. Vidushi Rana

Member of Parliament and Artha Samiti (Finance Committee)

3. Purushotam Yadav

Member of Parliament (Youngest MP) Purushotam Yadav has raised in Parliament the removal of VAT on menstrual products as a matter of women’s fundamental rights and dignity in Nepal.

What comes next

Parliamentary meetings are a beginning, not an end. The conversations we have had this week have confirmed what we always believed: there is political will to be found, if civil society pushes hard enough in the right rooms. Now we push harder.

OUR PRIORITIES AND NEXT STEPS

1 Continue deepening parliamentary and ministerial engagement

We will keep meeting with relevant parliamentarians and ministries, building a coalition of champions who understand the urgency before the budget is finalised.

2 Secure in-depth parliamentary and Finance Committee discussion

With over 10,000 signatures behind us, we hope parliamentarians will formally bring the removal of VAT on menstrual products to the floor for substantive debate, including in the Artha Samiti (Finance Committee), where budget decisions are shaped.

3 VAT removal included in the Budget for FY 2026/27

Our immediate goal is for the upcoming federal budget to include a full exemption on all menstrual products, delivering immediate, tangible relief to every person who menstruates in Nepal.

4 Permanent legislative protection through the VAT Act

Budget exemptions can be reversed. Lasting change requires amending the VAT Act to include menstrual products in Schedule 1, the list of goods permanently exempt from VAT, alongside condoms, medicines, and other essential products already recognised there.

5 Establish a monitoring committee for the next five years

A legal commitment is only as strong as the accountability behind it. We are calling for the establishment of a dedicated monitoring committee to oversee implementation and ensure that VAT on menstrual products is effectively removed and remains so for at least the next five years.