Patna girl backs ‘sanitary pad’ question to Bihar IAS officer, says 'it's serious concern of school-going girls, never got money'

Row over Bihar WCD MD’s ‘condom’ remarks: “My question (on sanitary pads) wasn't wrong. They aren't a big thing. I can buy but many live in slums and can't afford them. So, I asked a question not just for myself but for all girls,” said Ankita.
Riya Kumari

Riya Kumari

Photo : ANI
Patna: The 19-year-old from Patna, Riya Kumar who received a controversial answer from Bihar’s Women Development Corporation (WDC) managing director Harjot Kaur Bhamrah when the former asked the latter about the provisions of subsidised sanitary pads by the government, backed her question saying ‘there was nothing wrong with her question’. She added that it was a ‘serious concern of school-going girls.
As per The Indian Express report, Riya, who resides in a slum in Kamala Nehru Nagar in Patna, said she asked the question because she as well as many of her friends had never got any money to buy sanitary pads. She also suggested that each school should install a sanitary pad box so that girl students have access to it when needed.
“My question (on sanitary pads) wasn't wrong. They aren't a big thing. I can buy but many live in slums and can't afford them. So, I asked a question not just for myself but for all girls,” said Riya.
The incident took place when the lady IAS office from Bihar Cadre (1992 Batch) was responding to the questions raised by a girl student at a workshop--'Sashakt Beti, Samriddh Bihar: Towards enhancing the value of girl child'-- organised jointly by the UNICEF, Save the Children, Plan International including Women and Child Development Corporation in Patna on Tuesday.
During the public event, Riya Kumar asked why the government could not provide sanitary pads worth Rs 20-30 despite having the provisions.
Responding to the question, in a weird style, the senior woman IAS officer said that there is no end to demands and added that why only sanitary pads, 'if you want, the government can give you jeans pants, shoes as well.' The IAS officer went on to say that after the marriage, the 'government will provide you with contraceptive pills, and condoms, helpful in family planning that too free of cost.'
When the girl student argued that the government was duty-bound to give them certain facilities as politicians seek votes, Bamhrah responded, as reported by The Indian Express: “Mat do tum vote, sarkar tumhari hai. Ban jao Pakistan (do not vote, it's your government. Become Pakistan). Do you vote for money or amenities?”
Her controversial remarks to the girl student’s query were widely criticised following which Bhamrah issued a written apology on Thursday.
Bamhrah expressed regret and said, "I didn't intend to humiliate anyone or hurt anyone's sentiments.” She also listed the facilities that the state government had provided for the girls which included “giving Rs 300 to each girl student (from Class 6 and above) monthly to buy sanitary pads”.
However, Riya claimed that she and many of her friends have never received any money for the sanitary pads.
“I asked questions on sanitary pads as I and many of my friends never got any money to buy sanitary pads. What I wanted to suggest was to put a sanitary pad box at every school so that girls do not have to face embarrassment,” she said as quoted by The Indian Express.
“When some people clapped at my sanitary pad question, the WDC CMD did not like it,” she said adding that she had raised a serious concern of school-going girls at the workshop. “We went there to keep our concern and not to fight,” the girl said.
Riya is the only person in her family to have passed Class 10. Her father, who had worked as a labourer, passed away last year due to illness, reported The Indian Express.
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