One December  evening, 2016, Roshani Tiruwa, 16, was forced to stay in the quarantined shed  after her day in the sun. Her cardinal sin was the periods. Next morning, she was found dead. A TV report lately displayed another woman bickering with some fellows demolishing her shed that she badly needed during the periods. These are just symbolic sketches of some far-western villages in Nepal where women in the periods are sent to the social taboo patronised as Chhaupadi. Crippled  literally, such women risk death. Sociologists affirm it orthodoxy, superstition, illiteracy and male abuse, and take it as a fad. The government and non-government agencies, in line, do categorically proclaim:  Scrap it forthwith. Over this, then, burns off foreign money and nation’s calories. Women’s missions, human rights or media – all efforts have stayed crippled yet. Another enigma like witchcraft and shamans!

Democratic and mechanical moves flicker on with another picture here - small villages have readily transformed into smart zones, where the villager, one in the family, commonly owns a mobile phone. On eating and getup too, they are used to fast food like chow noodles and jeans broadly. All this explains their willingness to be linked in with the outer world. Notwithstanding, the taboo mars them, but why and how much longer with it is the million-dollar question. So time has now come one thought of it in an alternative decree.

As I believe, the villager holds on or rather sticks to this, and does not desire to break free from this for one or the other reason – so this is their preserved and honoured  culture.

Even when one calls it deathly and pulls down the sheds, it is clearly an echo of their hoary, ingrained custom. See how another shed stands back in a week if you pull down one today!

Rather than funds burning into ashes, sheds being pulled down and the agencies going on trolling indefinitely, it should be cool retaking the culture constructively! Better say:  build on Chhaupadi community retiring homes subscribed to the birthing and menstruating women because such amenities could result into tremendous vibes.  Away from the disgusting domestic chores, at least, it could delight and relax  them under a forced leave. A week or so spent here on TV soaps under paramedics  and volunteers could train them for tips like washrooms, sanitary pads and  personal hygiene.