KATHMANDU, JULY 14

The District Administration Office (DAO), Kanchanpur, has urged all nine local levels within the district to launch a special campaign to dismantle Chhaugoths-menstrual huts where menstruating women and girls are isolated as part of the traditional Chhau practice.

Issuing a notice on Monday, the DAO also called for immediate action to eradicate the deeply rooted and harmful tradition.

The campaign follows the tragic death of 28-year-old Kamala Damai of Nigali, Ward No. 1 in Krishnapur Municipality, who died from a snakebite while staying in a Chhaugoth during her menstrual period last Saturday, according to Chief District Officer Laxman Dhakal.

'The Chhau practice remains widespread. A woman has lost her life because of it. Therefore, launching a special campaign to demolish Chhaugoths is imperative,' asserted CDO Dhakal.

He stated that all local levels in the district have been instructed to initiate immediate action to dismantle these huts.

In response to the incident, Krishnapur Municipality issued a directive on Sunday, requiring the demolition of all Chhaugoths within 15 days.

Khagendra Prasad Bhatta, Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality, said, 'We have directed all ward offices to identify, inspect, and dismantle the Chhaugoths within the given time frame.' He warned that individuals who defy the directive will be fined Rs 10,000.

However, local officials acknowledge that eliminating this long-standing tradition is challenging.

Mohan Bahadur Basnet, Chairperson of Ward No. 1, revealed that although the ward has been running a campaign to demolish Chhaugoths for the past two years, the results have been limited.

'We tore down many Chhaugoths, facing verbal abuse, insults, and resistance. But to our dismay, residents rebuilt them shortly after we left,' he recounted.

He explained that many women and girls still opt to stay in Chhaugoths due to the prevailing superstition that sharing space with their family during menstruation would anger household deities.

According to Basnet, there are still over 200 Chhaugoths in his ward.

It is important to note that the Government of Nepal criminalized the Chhau practice in 2017. Yet, the persistence of this harmful tradition continues to endanger the lives and well-being of women and girls.