From Silence to Strength & Shame to Self- confidence: Young Women Leading Change in Bihar
How Young Women Leaders in Bihar Are Turning Pain Into Power and Leading Change
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In the iconic Bollywood film Amar Akbar Anthony, three brothers were separated in early childhood and reunited as grown men. However, not everyone is that fortunate. Puja (21 years old) had a traumatic childhood when her father passed away after her birth, and she was harassed by the step-grandmother soon after her mother remarried. Puja (8 years old at the time) and her elder sister (11 years old) left home for a better option, but they were separated at Patna Junction while de-boarding a train.
Journey of the little girl
Puja’s journey as a single homeless girl began with many ups and downs. At times, she met good people, but no help lasted for long, and every 3-4 months she had to encounter a new (mostly bad) experience. Finally, she managed to reach the Child Care Institutions (CCI) run by the Social Welfare Department, Government of Bihar, and then her life started stabilizing.
“I don’t remember I had ever eaten a hearty meal as far as my memory goes. After entering the CCI, I felt protected and for the first time I had a full meal and a good sleep in all those years”, shared Puja.
Institutional and UNICEF support
Having a keen interest in studies, she passed her 10th board exam with the help of the CCI officials. During her time at CCI, Puja attended different types of skills development programmes supported by UNICEF (through IP). She learnt sewing, computer, and financial literacy skills. The self-confidence and personal hygiene management classes helped build her personality.
She stayed in the CCI until she was 18 years old, and then, with the help of the Social Welfare Dept., she got a job and became financially independent. Taking a bold step, she invested a big chunk of her first salary in getting admission for 10+2 and successfully completed the same. The aftercare program of the Social Welfare department, with technical assistance from UNICEF, helped her all through her journey so far.
UNICEF extended technical support to the Government of Bihar to start the Aftercare program in 2019. Over the last 6 years, the program has significantly strengthened Aftercare services, leading to high-impact, sustainable outcomes for many girls like Puja.
Currently, Puja is pursuing her undergraduate studies with the help of a stipend from the State Aftercare Cell. She also received the LIFT (Learning in Fellowship Together) fellowship, supported by Udayan care (Implementing partner of UNICEF). Under this fellowship, she works with the DCPU (District Child Protection Unit), Child Welfare Committee (CWC), CCIs, and Care Leavers to ensure that all care leavers receive essential legal documents, such as birth certificates, Aadhaar cards, and bank accounts, upon exiting care.
Life with a mission
From providing self-confidence sessions to connecting with Udayan care for the LIFT fellowship, the Social Welfare dept., and UNICEF have supported me and many other girls like me. It is great support for children who are deserted by their own family members, and helps them build their lives. Building on my experiences and guidance from UNICEF, I will be supporting the care leavers in all my capacities.
“I am a core group member of the Bihar Care Leavers Alliance, which gives me a strong platform to share challenges, seek guidance, and support for others like me. My mission in life is to help as many children as possible so that no child feels scared and helpless, as I felt years ago. It has been a long time, and I don’t know where my didi (elder sister) is, but every time I help a girl, I feel someone somewhere might be helping my didi, and I do hope to meet her someday as well,” shared Puja with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
Kritika Kumari (14 years) is another emerging leader in her school and neighbourhood in a remote village in Purnea district, Bihar. She guides her friends, classmates, and women in her village on menstrual hygiene management (MHM). The social norms around menstruation have been very strict in Bihar, and any conversation around it should preferably be behind closed doors among female members of the family.
“When I got my period for the first time (at the age of 13 years), my didi (elder sister) explained to me about that and provided me with a sanitary pad. Like me, many other girls don’t know about it until they experience it, and at times, that creates panic for first-timers. One of my friends recently got into school and started crying badly, saying how could she get blood without any cut, and the stomach cramps were unbearable for her,” recalls Kritika.
Current context
Since periods are considered private and are often stigmatised, there is hardly any discussion about period preparedness and MHM. And hence, maintaining the healthy sexual and reproductive health of young women is a big concern. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), only 56% (rural) and 74.7% (urban) of women aged 15-24 years use hygienic methods of protection in Bihar. MHM is still a dream for many girls in the state.
UNICEF’s Technical Support
Menstrual Hygiene Management is one of the key components of UNICEF’s WASH in Schools Programme, ensuring that girls can manage their menstruation with dignity and confidence. The education department, with the technical support from UNICEF, has been taking several initiatives to promote menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in schools.
These include training and capacity building of nodal teachers, sensitization of Meena Manch members on MHM, and creating an enabling environment through MHM-friendly toilets, soap banks, sanitary pad banks, and Saheli Kaksh (rest room for girls). Additionally, efforts are being made to empower adolescent girls as agents of change, breaking taboos and stigma around menstruation.
UNICEF has capacitated 152 teachers as Master Trainers, who in turn trained approximately 5,726 nodal teachers in higher secondary schools across Bihar. Additionally, under intensive support to the priority district Purnea, UNICEF reached out to 200 schools directly, impacting over 10,000 children. Kritika is among the children who have benefited from this initiative and have emerged as agents of change.
Changing perceptions through behaviour change dialogues
“I had always seen my mother and aunties using old, dirty clothes during their periods, hiding their period panties from everyone, and not drying them in the sun. Based on my learnings from counselling sessions in schools, I started conducting meetings with women in my village and explained to them about the use of pads.
And told them about the risks of all the existing behaviours and how they can turn painful with fungal infections and Urinary tract infections (UTIs). With time, I am observing a little shift in the behaviour of women and girls in managing their menstruation well,” added the young MHM champion.
Puja and Kritika are rising as young leaders who not only overcame their own personal challenges but also inspired many other girls like them to break stereotypes, dream big, and embrace their true potential.
