Achham women forced to stay in Zinc-sheet sheds despite Chhaugoth demolition campaign

Achham: The practice of Chhaupadi—forcing women to stay away from home during menstruation—remains widespread in Achham, despite campaigns to demolish traditional Chhaugoths.

In Alitol of Panchadeval Binayak Municipality-5, women and girls continue to spend their menstrual periods in Chhaugoths. Although the mud and stone huts were demolished under various campaigns, locals have now replaced them with zinc-sheet sheds built a short distance from their homes.

During a monitoring visit on Tuesday, authorities found that nearly every household in Alitol had constructed zinc-sheet Chhaugoths. Local women said they feared divine anger if they stayed inside their homes during menstruation.

Panchadeval Binayak Municipality Mayor Ambika Chalaune urged locals to immediately demolish the sheds, warning that municipal services would be suspended if the practice continued.

The monitoring follows a tragic incident on Monday in Churkholi Tol, Selapani, Panchadeval Binayak-8, where 35-year-old Nim Khanal, 36-year-old Ratna Bhandari of Mangalsen Municipality-6, and her seven-year-old daughter were killed when a stone fell from a cliff onto a tarpaulin Chhaugoth near their home. Ratna, who was menstruating, had gone to her maternal home in Barla.

Chief District Officer Anand Saru said Chhaupadi is illegal, and cases will be filed if menstrual discrimination is reported. He added that immediate demolition of the sheds will be carried out in coordination with people’s representatives and police support.

Despite legal prohibitions, discriminatory customs persist in the region. Women and adolescent girls are still barred from consuming milk, curd, and yogurt during menstruation due to the superstition that doing so will make cattle infertile.