KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has decided to dismantle all the ‘Chhau Goth’ prevailing in some of the districts in the Far-Western region in the light of disparity against women.
The ‘Chau Goths’ are small huts made for menstruating women away from their houses in the name of ‘Chaupadi’, an ill-practice criminalized by the government.
The MoHA issued the directives here today to the District Administration Offices in Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu, Humla, Dolpa, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Salyan among others districts to coordinate efforts among the community, local level and police to bring down such huts.
Many girls and women were reported having faced attempted rape and many were killed by venomous insects during their oust to ‘Chau Goth’ in their monthly period. Furthermore, those practicing Chaupadi tradition be bereft of the state-allowances (senior citizen allowance, social security benefits, subsidized loan among others), as per the new decision made by the MoHA.
The Ministry took the decision following widespread criticism of continuation of the ‘Chaupadi’ practice in various places in the districts which, according to the Ministry, had encouraged the violence and disparity against women. Moreover, the Ministry has directed immediate action against those encouraging Chaupadi.
The Ministry also instructed that a massive awareness drive be launched in various places to educate the public about the legal provisions against this practice.
Moreover, coordination among the local religious leaders (shamans, priests), social organizations, social activists and people’s representatives has been stressed to reduce this harmful practice.
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