KATHMANDU: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has announced that the government will take policy-level action to curb the deeply rooted practice of chhaupadi, a harmful tradition that forces menstruating women to stay in isolated huts.
Speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the Inter-Party Women’s Network on Thursday, Minister Lekhak said the government is preparing to issue a circular to all local governments, instructing them to reconsider or withdraw certain benefits from individuals who construct or enforce the use of chhau sheds.
“The belief system around menstruation is driven by dangerous superstition,” said Lekhak. “To eliminate it, we need coordinated efforts, and I urge the Inter-Party Women’s Network to support this cause with ideas and cooperation.”
He stated that the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration will be directed to facilitate the necessary communication with municipalities and rural municipalities across the country. The objective, he said, is to ensure local governments become proactive in dismantling the harmful practice.
Minister Lekhak also reaffirmed the government’s seriousness in addressing gender-based violence, including rape and abuse, noting that action is being taken to hold perpetrators accountable.
“I am committed to upholding the dignity, safety, and self-respect of women,” Lekhak said, assuring the public that justice would be pursued for victims.
The remarks come in the wake of a tragic incident on July 11 in Krishnapur Municipality-1, Kanchanpur, where 32-year-old Kamala Aauji died after being bitten by a snake while sleeping in a chhau hut during her menstrual period.
Despite having built a concrete home with earnings from labor in India, she had been forced to stay in the shed due to traditional beliefs.
During the meeting, a delegation led by Mamta Giri, president of the Inter-Party Women’s Network, submitted a memorandum to Minister Lekhak, expressing concern over the increasing cases of violence and discrimination against women and children and demanding effective measures for prevention and justice.
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