The return of the chhau

Our campaigns to educate the people about the ills of ‘chhaupadi’ are inadequate.

The Nepali state’s campaign to abolish chhaupadi —observing forced isolation during menstruation—has suffered from indifference and lethargy, leading to the return of the chhau sheds. When local-level governments took the lead to demolish chhau sheds four years ago after the death of Parvati Budha due to snakebite, it was hoped that the hinterlands, primarily in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces, would be free of chhau sheds. However, with the campaign losing steam, the sheds have started to pop up once again. And with this, there are fears that menstruating women will continue to die in the sheds as they have been dying for generations.