A few months ago, tragedy struck in
Krishnapur Municipality-1, Kanchanpur. Kamala Damai, a 28-year-old woman, was
bitten by a snake around 8 p.m. while she was preparing to sleep in a Chhaupadi
shed. Although her family had a permanent house, Kamala was compelled to spend
the night in the shed due to superstition and harmful social traditions.
Not long after, another devastating
incident unfolded in Panchadewal Binayak Municipality, Achham. Twenty-eight-year-old
Nim Khanal and seven-year-old Kabita Bhandari lost their lives when a rock fell
on them as they set up a makeshift tent to observe their menstrual period.
These incidents, though separated by place and time, carry the same tragic
thread—Nepali women are still dying because of the discriminatory practice of
Chhaupadi.
Age-old Tradition :
Chhaupadi is a centuries-old Hindu
practice deeply rooted in parts of far-western and mid-western Nepal. Based on
the belief that menstruating women are impure and untouchable, it forces women
and girls to isolate themselves in sheds, far from their families and
communities. During their periods, they are barred from entering homes,
touching food, participating in daily activities, or even accessing proper health
care.
In districts across Sudurpashchim and Karnali provinces, many families believe that abandoning the practice will anger the gods and invite misfortune. Thus, despite modern awareness campaigns, superstition continues to outweigh safety.
A Law Without Teeth :
Recognizing the dangers, Nepal officially
criminalized Chhaupadi in 2017 under Section 168 of the Muluki Criminal Code.
Subsection (3) prohibits forcing a woman into a menstruation shed or subjecting
her to discrimination during menstruation or postpartum periods. Subsection (4)
prescribes a punishment of up to three months in prison or a fine of up to
thirty thousand rupees for violators.
Yet, laws on paper have not translated
into change on the ground. Sheds are demolished, but they are quickly rebuilt.
Legal punishment is rare, while deaths continue to be reported every year.
A Matter of Mindset:
While the destruction of menstruation huts
may appear as progress, it addresses only the symptom, not the root cause. The
real battle lies in dismantling deeply entrenched patriarchy, superstition, and
ignorance.
“Only
legal provisions are not enough to end such practices. We need to focus on
awareness and educating women,” say health and human rights advocates. Without
education and community-based interventions, families will continue to believe
that breaking tradition invites divine wrath.
The Alarming Numbers
The persistence of Chhaupadi is evident in
statistics. Among Nepal’s seven provinces, Sudurpashchim has the highest
prevalence of menstrual restrictions (95.6% ), followed by Karnali (91.7%.
Bagmati Province, though faring better, still reports 79% prevalence. These
figures reveal how widespread menstrual discrimination remains, even in
urbanized areas.
A Call for Change :
Every year, women in Nepal lose their
lives in menstruation huts—from snakebites, cold, suffocation, or accidents
like falling rocks. These deaths are preventable. The challenge is not merely
demolishing huts but breaking down the walls of fear and superstition that force
women into them.
Ending Chhaupadi requires more than
laws—it demands dialogue, education, and cultural transformation. Community
leaders, health workers, teachers, and policymakers must work together to
ensure that no girl or woman is made to risk her life for a natural biological
process.
Until then, the question remains: how
many more women must die before Nepal says goodbye to Chhaupadi forever?
Madan Raj pandeya
Public Health inspector (GON )
