A tragic incident in Nepal has brought attention to the persistent issue of chhaupadi, an illegal practice where menstruating women are forced to stay in huts outside their homes, often with dangerous consequences. The recent death of a 16-year-old girl named Anita Chand in the Baitadi district has underscored the urgency of eradicating this harmful tradition, The Guardian reported.
Anita Chand, from Baitadi district in western Nepal near the border with India, lost her life due to a snake bite while sleeping in a chhaupadi hut. Her passing marks the first reported fatality from chhaupadi since 2019, raising concerns among activists that progress made to eliminate the practice is being undermined.
Chhaupadi is rooted in the belief that menstruating women are impure and untouchable. As a result, they are prohibited from engaging in various activities and are sometimes secluded in "period huts" for the duration of their menstruation. Despite being outlawed in 2005, chhaupadi continues to persist, particularly in the western regions of Nepal.
In Baitadi district, police are investigating Anita's death. Her family denies that she was menstruating when she died. The practice is punishable by up to three months in prison and a fine of 3,000 Nepali rupees (£20).
The last reported death linked to chhaupadi occurred in 2019 when 21-year-old Parwati Budha Rawat died after spending three nights in an outdoor hut. Her tragic passing prompted nationwide efforts to eradicate the practice, resulting in the destruction of thousands of period huts. However, signs suggest that these huts are now being rebuilt.
Pashupati Kunwar, a long-time campaigner against chhaupadi, highlighted that progress had been achieved after Parwati's death, with thousands of period huts destroyed and increased awareness about the practice. However, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted focus away from chhaupadi, and rebuilding of period huts resumed in some areas.
Radha Paudel, the founder of Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation, emphasised that the government of Nepal needs to do more than just distribute free sanitary pads to schoolgirls. While laws criminalising the practice exist, enforcement is lacking. Paudel stressed that a comprehensive approach, involving education, awareness campaigns, and consistent enforcement of existing laws, is necessary to truly eliminate chhaupadi.
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