Meet Sheela Kumari Who Leads Revolution To End Period Poverty In Rural Bihar
Sanitary Pad Banks, a unique initiative catalysed by her has now been extended to more regions in the state
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2025-04-26 11:53 GMT
Period poverty is a public health challenge that affects women and girls across both high- and low-income countries. Access to menstrual hygiene products often depends on income levels and whether one lives in an urban or rural area, according to an article by UN Women.
In countries such as India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe, girls and women in urban areas are more likely to use sanitary pads, while those in rural areas often rely on cloth. This gap is made worse by the persistence of stigma and stereotypes surrounding menstruation. Changing this reality requires individuals from within these communities to step forward, and Sheela Kumari from Nawada, Bihar did just that.
One of her most impactful contributions has been the creation of Sanitary Pad Banks, a unique, community-driven initiative launched in 2017–18 in Hardiya village, where she lives. Recognising the limited access to affordable menstrual products and the stigma surrounding menstruation, Sheela encouraged adolescent girls to contribute Rs One each day to purchase sanitary pads in bulk. This not only reduced costs through vendor discounts but also allowed for free distribution to girls who couldn’t afford them, giving them a sense of ownership and dignity.
Under her leadership, the model spread across the region, leading to the establishment of 53 functional pad banks in the Nawada and Darbhanga districts. It has become one of the most successful and distinctive initiatives of its kind in Bihar.
During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, when shops were closed and mobility was restricted, Sheela and her network of Youth Champions and Kishori Samoohs acted quickly. The Kishori Samooh, a programme supported by the Population Foundation of India, trains girls in menstrual health, nutrition, and reproductive health. Drawing on this support, Sheela and her team distributed over 4,000 sanitary pads to girls and women in vulnerable communities.
Sheela recalls how bulk purchasing helped stretch every contribution. Vendors offered discounts, enabling the girls to buy more pads with less money. Over time, even newly married women and daughters-in-law, who were often restricted from going out, began requesting the girls to buy pads on their behalf. This shift marked a subtle yet powerful transformation in how menstrual hygiene was approached within the community.
What began as a small effort among adolescent girls gradually created wider change. Conversations around menstrual health became more open, and more women and girls started demanding access to basic products without hesitation.
In 2023, Sheela attended a residential training on menstrual health and hygiene conducted by the Department of Women and Child Development. She now leads awareness sessions, supports girls in managing their health, and challenges the social silence around menstruation.
On World Women's Wellness Day, observed on the last Friday of April each year, her journey also shows how a community-led idea, supported by persistence and trust, can lead to meaningful change.