‘Condoms next?’: Bihar official responds sharply over sanitary pads

PATNA: Senior IAS officer and Bihar Women and Children Development Corporation MD Harjot Kaur Bamhrah stirred up controversy with her abrasive responses to question by girl students at an event for Class 9 and 10 students here on Wednesday.

Video of the questions by students and the officer's testy and irritated answers at the 'Sashakt Beti, Samriddh Bihar' event, organised by the Corporation and UNICEF, went viral on social media.

As a student asked Bamhrah that the government is providing school dress, scholarship, bicycles and many other facilities to students, can't it provide sanitary pads for Rs 20 to 30 to girls students - drawing applause, Bamhrah hit out, saying that people are clapping over the question but these are endless demands.

"Today, the government would provide you with sanitary pads for Rs 20 to Rs 30. Then you ask for jeans, pants and then, beautiful shoes," she said but did not stop there.

"When it comes to family planning, will the government give condoms (Nirodh) to you. Why would I have a habit of taking everything free from the government? What is the need of it?"

At that, the student said the government comes to them to seek their votes. Bamhrah angrily replied that "this is the height of stupidity. You don't vote and go to Pakistan. You are giving a vote to take money and facilities from the government".

That girl student responded that she is an Indian and why would she go to Pakistan?

"The government is providing facilities from the money of taxpayers. If taxpayers are paying taxes to the government, why would they not demand for the services?" she asked.

Another girl student claimed problem in toilets for girls in the school, saying that the boys also enter the girls' toilet and make them uncomfortable.

At this, Bamhrah asked if every student present in the hall has separate toilets for them at home, leaving many in the audience surprised and shocked at the tenor of the senior IAS officer who demeaned the girl students.