KATHMANDU, JULY 15
Kamala Aujee, 28, suffered a snake bite on the night of July 11 in Krishnapur Municipality, Kanchanpur. She was sleeping in a cowshed due to her menstrual cycle. On July 12, she died while receiving treatment. She was a mother to three children.
This incident once again stunned the nation, even as this was neither an isolated incident nor the first.
Previously, many women in the Far West Province (Sudurpaschim) died as a result of the Chhaupadi system. Legally, the Chhaupadi system-a form of menstrual taboo which prohibits women and girls from participating in normal family activities while menstruating, as they are considered 'impure', and are made to live in a cattle shed (mainly in the western region of the country), or a makeshift dwelling known as a menstruation hut, for the duration period-is considered a crime. However, in practice, the shelter still exists and awareness has not been raised.
During the special session and zero hour on Tuesday, lawmakers in the National Assembly were both emotional and angry about this issue. They raised serious concerns about the state's silence, lack of accountability, and apathy.
The legislators jointly stated that such incidents occur on a regular basis as a result of the federal, provincial, and local governments' silence or negligence.
Despite the existence of laws, acts, and parliamentary decisions, women continue to lose their lives. Some blamed their families, while others blamed society. Some criticised state machinery, while others criticised political party leaders. Some urged an end to the confusion in the name of gods, while others stated that they would not tolerate the death of women in the name of gods. They echoed in the House: 'If the law is not actionable, why does parliament even exist?'
Lawmaker Bhagwati Neupane, who was appointed Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration today, stated, "It is not enough to simply make laws. The government must now take responsibility in practice as well."
Jayantidevi Rai, a member of parliament from the CPN (Unified Socialist) Party, referred to the incident as a 'punishable crime' and expressed concern about the government's weakness. "We had passed a dignified menstruation motion. However, many Kamalas are still forced to die in the shed."
She asked the government, "How many more must die? Why must they be killed by rape? Why must they die from snakebites? How many more of these news stories must we read?"
Renu Chand, a CPN-MC lawmaker, was irate. She stated, "The municipality has ordered the demolition of the menstrual hut, but my government wants to know whether it is legal to keep the menstrual hut or not. If those who continue to commit crimes are not held accountable, will the government arrest the ancestral deity?"
