That Chhaupadi system—whereby girls and women are secluded during menstruation for days and are forced to live in dangerous sheds—is a human cruelty is no brainer. This has resulted in huge social, psychological and physical harm on women. They have suffered isolation, poor hygiene, sexual abuse and even deaths while adhering to this extremely harmful traditional practice.

KATHMANDU, Feb 24: The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens is organizing an international conference in Kathmandu from May 26 to 28 with the aim of ending chhaupadi practice, under which women are banished to sheds (chau) during their monthly period.

JUMLA, Jan 19: After the local administration launched a campaign to make the district free of Chhaupadi sheds (menstruation sheds), the region's shamans, too, have started supporting the movement against the "bad practice". They are also against Chhaupadi, which the government has already declared as a bad practice.

ACHHAM, Jan 24: With the temperature dipping, people have started wrapping themselves up with layers of warm clothes and avoiding going out of home to escape the biting cold. However, women in the far western region do not seem to have this 'privilege' in their fate.