The Election Commission has for the first time decided to give sanitary pads to every woman coming to vote at the 'sakhi matdan kendras' in suburban Mumbai on April 29, an official said on Wednesday.

The "goodwill gesture" is aimed at encouraging more women to come out and exercise their franchise, he said. 'Sakhi matdan kendras', the polling booths entirely managed by women, have been set up in all 26 Assembly segments of suburban Mumbai, which consists of three administrative subdivisions - Kurla, Andheri, and Borivali, he said.