The Maharashtra state women's commission has taken the initiative to install sanitary pad vending machines in nine prisons across the state of Maharashtra. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by the state women's commission after the custodial death of an inmate in Mumbai's Byculla Prison to inquire and make a report about the facilities being provided to the inmates in various jails of the state, in terms of food, nutrition, and security.

The report from the SIT led to the decision of installing sanitary pad vending machines in nine jails in the state. The commission also decided to install burning machines in all of these prisons so that women inmates can dispose of their used pads easily. MSWC has also made it clear that after the installation of these machines, jail authorities will bear the cost of its upkeep and maintenance. The jail authorities, further, can decide on either giving the pads on a nominal cost or for free to the prison women inmates.