Menstruation is a natural biological process, but in western and far-western Nepal, it still causes isolation, risk, and shame for women. The recent destruction of 39 menstrual huts in Kanchanpur shows both progress in ending menstruation banishment and the continued existence of the practice. The huts, called chhaugoth, are used to isolate women during their periods because their presence in the home is thought to upset deities. In spite of legal prohibitions and repeated demolition campaigns, families reconstruct them, perpetuating the practice. The death of 28-year-old Kamala Auji due to a snakebite while she was staying in such a hut last month is a grim reminder of how this tradition claims lives and health. It is a tragedy that continues unabated despite years of public campaigns. Police reports and municipal records indicate that chhaupadi huts are demolished repeatedly in districts ranging from Bajura to Achham, only to reappear. Minister Nawal Kishor Shah Sudi earlier said 775 huts had been destroyed in several districts, with local governments, police, and social organizations combining efforts.
Experts stress menstruation as a public health and gender discr...
Such efforts lay bare the underlying issue: a belief system so entrenched that legal decrees and demolitions alone are inadequate. Many villages continue to believe menstruating women invite bad luck into their homes, crops, and livestock if they are permitted indoors. Families are more afraid of divine wrath than legal action, making enforcement a perpetual uphill struggle. This social scourge exists because it is tied to religion, tradition, and social pressure. It is handed down by older generations to younger ones, and in tight-knit societies, going against the custom can result in social exclusion. Poverty and a lack of education are also factors, as many remain unaware of the health dangers posed by freezing, unhygienic huts. Where local leaders privately condone the practice, the enforcement of the law becomes even weaker. The consequence is a cycle where women are still banished to unsafe huts each month, making them vulnerable to snakebites, wild animals, respiratory diseases, malnourishment, and psychological damage.
To end this cycle, demolition drives should be carried out alongside strict law enforcement. Awareness and education must reach the family level, while religious leaders, educators, and local elders must be called upon to publicly denounce menstruation banishment, urging families to abandon superstitious beliefs. Campaigns highlighting the health dangers—backed by the testimonies of women who have experienced them—can be more effective than legal warnings. Schools should incorporate menstrual health into standard curricula so that the next generation can grow up free from shame and fear. Authorities must ensure that those who construct huts face serious punishment, but civil society and the educated community also need to own the change. If we can reverse current social norms regarding menstruation banishment, it will become increasingly difficult for families to continue the practice without losing face in society. Every member of every social stratum should be convinced that ending this scourge is a sure way to end cruelty toward women. Bringing this practice to an end is an act of human decency, aimed at uplifting victims of societal discrimination.
