Author: Bihar Say | Amrita | Breaking the Silence: How Surbhi Kumari is Revolutionizing Menstrual Health in Bihar A City of Traditions and Taboos Gaya, Bihar—revered as the
Breaking the Silence: How Surbhi Kumari is Revolutionizing Menstrual Health in Bihar
Gaya, Bihar—revered as the Moksha City—is known for its deep-rooted traditions. However, in a place where taboos often go unchallenged, a young girl once faced an unspoken embarrassment—the arrival of her first period.
But this is not just her story.
Like countless others, Surbhi Kumari grew up in an environment where menstruation was wrapped in silence and misinformation. Yet, unlike many, she refused to accept it as normal.
She saw women in rural Bihar using unhygienic materials like sand, ash, and dirty cloth. Consequently, this wasn’t just a personal challenge—it was a crisis.
In 2011, while working with JPAL, Surbhi witnessed firsthand the dire state of menstrual health in low-income communities. As a result, this experience became the catalyst for her mission to drive real change.
In 2019, Surbhi co-founded SumArth, a social enterprise dedicated to dismantling menstrual taboos and providing sustainable hygiene solutions. Since then, her initiative has:
As a result, women who once hid their struggles now advocate for change, embracing hygiene with dignity.
Surbhi Kumari’s journey is an inspiring testament to awareness, resilience, and action. Over time, she has transformed personal pain into a powerful movement, rewriting the narrative of menstrual health in Bihar—one woman at a time.
Menstruation is not a taboo—it’s a fact of life. Therefore, let’s break the silence together.
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