Meet Mausam Kumari, Torchbearer Of Menstrual Health In Rural Bihar

In a world where taboos often shroud conversations about women's health, a young and vibrant advocate has emerged, breaking barriers and making menstrual health accessible to countless girls in rural India. As India comes together to celebrate National Youth Day, let's put a spotlight on Mausam Kumari, a woman from Bihar's Rajauli, Nawada district, who established a sanitary pad bank in her village with her own pocket money when she was just 15 years old. The pad bank is a momentous step to not just provide sanitary products, but also to educate people about destigmatising women's health.

It has been over seven years since the pad bank's inception, and Kumari continues to be a devoted activist for menstrual health, dismantling taboos and creating open discussions about it. She has been the leader of the Kishori Samooh, a government scheme for rural adolescent girls, in Rajauli since 2016. The 22-year-old collaborates with ASHA workers and Auxillary Nursing Midwives (ANMs) to distribute pads and folic acid tablets and provide information on Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) services to women and girls across the Nawada district.

Early Days Of Addressing Stigmas

Mausam Kumari was curious about the taboos surrounding menstruation right from a young age. She observed her mother and grandmother shying away from discussing menstrual health and imposing unreasonable restrictions on entering the kitchen, cooking, touching pickles, or participating in religious activities.

As Kumari began educating herself, she realised these practices stemmed from misconceptions. "These customs were designed to support and care for women during their menstruation, even though they had been misinterpreted over time. This realisation motivated me to learn more about my own body," Kumari told SheThePeople in an interview. 

She then began educating her family about destigmatising menstruation. Kumari recalled a small but significant moment that shaped her journey. 

One significant milestone in my journey was when I travelled and got my period. I was able to openly ask my brother, a man, to buy pads for me without any hesitation. This moment marked a shift in how my family perceived menstruation. It showed me that change was possible, and it felt like a personal achievement.

Establishing The Pad Bank

When Kumari was 15 years old, she witnessed her classmate suffering from a painful illness caused by using unclean cloth instead of sanitary pads. That was the moment she took it upon herself to save pocket money and distribute pads to women and girls. Soon she was joined by her classmates and friends in educating people about hygienic menstrual practices. 

Despite encountering negative reactions and people stubborn in their ignorant beliefs, Kumari did not feel discouraged. "Women would curse me when I’d talk to them about pads and menstrual health. There was this one girl who would criticise me a lot but one day, she came up to me to ask for pads which was quite heartening to see. Even during meetings, women come forward now to ask for what they want. These women run the pad bank now," she said.

Sharing an instance that made Kumari realise the ignorance reserved towards menstsrual health, she said, "One day, a man approached us and questioned why we were only providing bread to women and not to men. To our surprise, the local people thought that the pads were actually bread. They had never seen or recognized what a pad looked like. In their communities, women were still using pieces of cloth, often using old garments and waste materials."

Each pack of pads costs Rs 30 which her team collects from donations of Rs 1 from each person. Kumari has not only been able to set up the pad bank but also collaborates with government organisations and workers to address civic and social issues around menstrual advocacy and health. She now leads the Kishori Samooh youth organisation which was established by the Bihar government in Rajauli in 2016.

Other Issues Women's Health Face

Apart from the necessity for safe menstrual practices, Mausam Kumari also observed other inherent issues that women's health faced in her village. After robust research, she realised that the lack of specialised doctors and nutritional food was hindering women from achieving holistic wellness. 

She said, "There is also a lack of nutritional food like dal, almonds, and other good foods... Some people drink potions made of cumin, thinking it will help them, but I've tried it. It doesn't help. However, hot bags, medicines, and good food do help." Thus, Kumari's team is doing its bit by distributing folic acid supplements to women, which is important in preventing anaemia. 

On The Frontline During Pandemic

While the world was on pause during the COVID lockdowns in 2020, Mausam Kumari was apprehensive about taking her team's campaign forward. That was when she collaborated with Neha Singh, from a homogenous organisation called Bleeding Blues, to acquire about 4000 to 5000 sanitary pads for the women of Rajauli. 

"People would come up to my parents asking my mom to get them pads. We gradually grew in size and women in our community started talking about their needs," she said. Kumari was also successful in urging the government to set up an Adolescent Friendly Health Clinic (AFHC) in the Nawada district during this time.

A Guiding Force In Women's Health

Bringing significant change in ingrained generational beliefs is not easy. However, Mausam Kumari was determined and used her best strengths to win the people over to her side. She said, "I love talking, my creativity comes out when I'm talking to these women and being there for them. I try to blend in with them, make them laugh and feel comfortable to talk to me. It makes the sessions fun and helps me to get through to people who are refusing to accept these things."

Mausam Kumari and her team have created a ripple effect in the community, making menstrual health a topic of candid conversation. Kumari credits her team's willingness to break out of the age-old restrictive framework to delivering change, not only in society but in her self-worth as well.

My samooh (organisation) has played a crucial role in amplifying my ideas and voice. Now, I'm not alone; I have a group. People's perceptions of my beliefs have shifted; they might question one girl, but they can't dismiss a group. Alone, my efforts might have been overlooked, but together, we are more significant and impactful. The name of our Samooh is mentioned every time we step out. When we sit together, diverse views, opinions, and problems come to light, enriching our discussions. This group has also helped me unlearn my shame," Kumari expressed.