Riya, who clashed with IAS on sanitary pad, got a job: Said- got a reward for raising her voice; people coming to my house taking selfies

I live in Kamala Nehru Nagar Slum, Patna. There has been a gathering of people at my house for the last four days. People are coming and ask are you Riya Kumari. Take selfie. I have got a job offer.

It is a matter of 27 September 2022 when a workshop on women empowerment was organized by the Women Development Corporation (WDC) and UNICEF. Its name was strong daughter, prosperous Bihar. School-college children were invited to this.

Tomorrow you will start asking for jeans, shoes and then one day condoms

Five girls from my locality went to it. I also got a chance to speak. In the workshop, IAS Harjot Kaur Bamhra, Managing Director of WDC had reached. At first we all said that ma’am, schools do not have toilets for girls. On this he said that do you have separate toilets in your houses which will be available in schools. I directly asked ma’am that if the government does so much work, can it not provide sanitary pads worth 20-30 rupees in schools?

I told him this because we never have money to buy sanitary pads. Me and my friends passed out from school, but the lack of sanitary pads always caused problems. In the workshop, I said that schools should have sanitary pad boxes so that they can be used when needed. On this the IAS madam said that today you are asking for sanitary pads, tomorrow you will start asking for jeans and then good shoes. One day you will start asking for condoms too.

The program ‘Sashakt Beti, Samridhi Bihar’ was organized at Maurya Hotel in Patna. Riya Kumari had reached the program through an NGO.

IAS officer said – don’t vote, become Pakistani

I again said that we vote for the leaders. Anyone can win, but the government works for everyone. Girls should get facilities. On this he said that do not vote. Be Pakistani. You vote for money.

There was applause in the workshop for my question, but the IAS madam did not like it. It is said that there is no end to free things. I had many more questions, but the IAS madam got up from the workshop and left.

There was a journalist Didi in this program who wrote the news. The next day the news was published and the video of the workshop went viral when I started getting calls. I didn’t understand anything at first. Later it was reported that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would take action on the IAS. IAS has also apologized. All I want to say is that the questions we asked were justified. The government officer should not have talked like this.

Girls’ education is free, then why is money being taken

When the video went viral, the MD apologized and explained the schemes that each girl of class VI or above is given Rs 300 for sanitary pads. But the reality is that I never got money for sanitary pads while I was in school.

There is talk of making higher education free for girls in the state. But I was asked for Rs 4500 for admission in Patna’s BN College. I did not have money then, so could not take admission.

Company’s people came home and gave jobs

Two days after the incident, the officials of a sanitary pad manufacturing company reached the house. I have been given a job hand-in-hand. The company has said that they will provide sanitary pads for free for a year. The company will also take whatever money will be spent for further studies. It is like a gift for a poor girl like me.

Riya lives in Kamala Nehru Nagar, Patna, where no facilities are available from the government. Riya’s house seen in the picture.

Father is not there, brother is a coolie at Patna Junction

We are four brothers and three sisters. Father used to work. He passed away from the disease in 2020. After this all the burden of the house fell on the elder brother. My brother is a coolie at Patna railway junction. He has been working since the age of 12. He has married three sisters with his own earnings. A brother is unable to speak since birth.

I am the only one in my house to do 10th

Brother is the only member in the family who earns. Earn 300 to 400 rupees every day. This is how the house runs. To ease the burden on my brother, I worked for an organization. She used to teach children there. I used to get six thousand rupees every month. When the project was over, that work was also abandoned.

I have studied from government school. I am the only one in my house to study till 10th. I want to do government job from the beginning. Right now I will also do a job in this company, along with my studies. My work profile is to make women aware about menstrual hygiene.

Hesitation about pads has to be given up

I want to tell the girls that they should not hesitate to speak. Everyone in the house knows that girls have periods, so when it comes to pads, speak openly. Don’t be shy Even now people buy the pads from the market and take them by wrapping them in paper. This hesitation has to be dropped. By doing this we invite the disease itself.

Graphics: Satyam Parida

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