 Although she is best known as a poet environmentalist, Kumari is also the founder of Abhaya (refuge) – an organisation which gives shelter and hope to female mental patients.Her work to launch Abhaya was prompted by an off-chance visit to the government-run Mental Hospital in the capital, Thiruvananthapuram.There women were housed in 19th century conditions, sexually abused and regularly prostituted to men in the neighbouring police camp.