KANCHANPUR, Aug 13: A total of 39 menstrual huts have been demolished recently in Kanchanpur district. The District Police Office, Kanchanpur, shared that Bedkot municipality-10 dismantled 23 such huts and Krishnapur municipality-1 dismantled 16 huts used for girls and women during menstruation.
Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Office, Sagar Bohara, stated that the period huts were destroyed in the presence of local representatives, social organizations, police and commoners. Nigali and Bhenti Bazaar witnessed the highest number of demolitions.
The local, district and provincial levels were alarmed, especially after the death of 28-year-old Kamala Auji due to snakebite during her stay in the menstrual hut last month. The incident occurred at Nagal of Krishnapur municipality-1.
The District Administration Office had issued a directive to all local levels to wipe out the huts kept for practicing the superstitious belief that if woman and girls are kept together with family members during their period, it is sheer disrespect to God.
Ward no 10 chairman of Bedkot municipality, Ratan Singh Bista, informed that even his local level had flattened 23 such outhouses. He, however, shared the plight: "We dismantle the menstrual huts, but the concerned households construct them again."
He also shared further plans of giving orientation to the households on the harmfulness of such superstitious practices.
It is essential to raise massive public awareness against social ills like practicing chhau (isolation and untouchability) and secluding menstruating women in chhaugoth, the outhouse.
Chairman of ward no. 1, Mohan Basnet, said his community was, however, relatively aware of such ill practice. In the past, they also destroyed 16 such outhouses.