Bihar X Simply Sport: Building the Most Ambitious Female Athlete Movement in India
- Aditi Mutatkar
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
It was 45°C in Patna on Day 2 of the Khelo India Youth Games. A young athlete entered Pataliputra Stadium, bowing to touch the soil—a quiet ritual, her prayer for strength.
But as she rose, something shifted. A familiar cramp. Her period had started early and unexpectedly. No pads. Her coach, though supportive, wasn’t someone she could confide in. Panic crept in. And then, she spotted a standee:
“Simply Periods – Menstrual Health Kiosk.”
She followed the arrow and reached the kiosk.
“Can I buy a pad here?” she asked.
“You don’t have to,” the team replied. “It’s free—after a quick learning experience.”
She hesitated. She wasn’t here to talk about menstruation—she was here to win. But she needed help. So she stayed.
What followed wasn’t just a transaction—it was a transformation. She learned about her body: the menstrual cycle, pain management, period tracking, puberty, breast health, pelvic strength. She left with a pad—and a new sense of agency, autonomy.
She returned the next day, not for products, but for relief. The cramps persisted. The kiosk team guided her through breathing exercises, gentle stretches, and physiotherapy. The care helped, but what stayed with her most was the feeling of being heard, without shame.
On Day 3, she brought her teammate.
“She struggles with breast pain. I don’t think she has the right support.”The team taught her about sports bras and proper fit. For the first time, both girls felt supported—literally and emotionally.
These are just 2 of the 100 stories we witnessed at the Simply Periods kiosk by Simply Sport Foundation, an initiative led by Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA).
A Sanctuary in the Stadium
Over 500 athletes and 300+ coaches and support staff visited the Simply Periods kiosks in Patna and Rajgir.
Of the 466 female athletes at the Games, more than 70% came from tier-2/3 towns and villages—many we estimate have limited access to basic menstrual health resources, health literacy, or safe spaces to discuss gender-specific concerns.This we can safely estimate with the experience we have had working on the field for the last three years impacting over 8000 athletes and coaches through over 200 workshops across states.
For 10 days, the kiosk did more than distribute 800+ free period care kits (thanks to the support from PeeSafe). It became a sanctuary—where athletes spoke freely about irregular periods, pelvic issues (“I pee a little when I lift”), breast discomfort, and more.
Not All Stories Were This Hopeful, But We Still Learnt From Them
We also heard:
“This is ASHLEEL. How was this allowed?”
(Ashleel = Obscene)
“Is this a fertility clinic?”
“Can I get a condom? If you're giving pads, why not condoms too?” (Said with mocking intent, aimed at the all-women team.)
These weren’t questions. They were provocations—reminders of how fragile progress is when women claim public space to speak openly about their bodies. What did we learn from some of these exchanges?
Taboo still trumps truth. A basic health kiosk became "ashleel" simply because it created space for women to speak about their uterus and periods.
Sexual and reproductive health are still dangerously conflated. Many assumed the kiosk was about sex, infertility, or contraception, exposing a deep lack of awareness.
Women-led spaces remain vulnerable. The mocking tone, inappropriate questions, and body language weren’t curiosity—they were attempts to undermine and intimidate.
And Yet, We Showed Up. Every Day.
Because this wasn’t just a kiosk—it was a statement: Menstrual health is not a side issue. It’s central to performance, dignity, and equity in sport.
The impact was impossible to ignore. Players, parents, officials, and partners praised the initiative. It sparked dialogue. It made people pause, reflect—and more importantly, made girls feel seen.
Media, influencers, and radio stations across Bihar covered the initiative. DD News ran a special segment, completely unpaid.
DD News Link- Khelo India Games के तहत लगातार महिलाओं की भागीदारी बढ़ रही है
And then came the cherry on top: A visit from Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, who said:
“We are proud of the work you’re doing. Menstrual health literacy in sports is not just important—it’s essential. It uplifts not only our athletes but the entire sporting ecosystem.”
In the photo- From the left, Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary, Myas, DG and CEO, BSSA Raveendran Shankaran, Manasi Satalkar from Simply Sport How Did We Get Here?
This wasn’t a one-off. The kiosk was the culmination of a three-year partnership between Simply Sport and BSSA, spearheaded by Director General and CEO of Bihar Sports State Authority, Raveendran Shankaran, focused on normalising menstrual health conversations in Indian sport.
From 2023 to 2025, the Simply Periods initiative scaled from local workshops in Patna, Siwan, and Darbhanga to:
20 athlete workshops and 5 coach workshops
10+ districts covered
724+ individuals impacted, mostly from underserved regions
Baseline data showed that 70% of athletes experienced period pain, and 60% lacked hemoglobin awareness
Pilot programs on nutrition, PMS tracking, and performance impact
Launch of Simply Berry — a WhatsApp-based menstrual tracking tool
Tech integration, product demos, and policy-ready data collection
What’s Next?
The kiosk is just the beginning.
The next step is the release of a Menstrual Health Literacy Report, based on 800+ survey responses from athletes, coaches, and staff. It will offer data-driven insights and policy recommendations for states across India.
BSSA and Simply Sport are committed to keeping this conversation alive—so no athlete is forced into silence, discomfort, or shame because of her period.
This was never just about pads.
It was about power, participation, and performance.
And we’re just getting started.
About the author:
Aditi Mutatkar, our Head of Athlete and Women's Initiatives, is a former international badminton player and five-time national champion across age groups. She represented India on the global stage, earning a silver medal in the mixed team event at the Commonwealth Games and achieving a career-high world ranking of No. 27 in 2008. After her sports career, she pursued a master’s in Public Administration from the University of Texas and a graduate certificate in Public Policy from the Takshashila Institution.
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