Women forced to move from Chhaugoth to Tripal and Odhar

Incidents such as the death of a woman and sexual abuse are being made public in Chhaugoth. Such touching and violence against women is punishable by law. In order to abolish Chhaupdi system, the campaign to demolish Chhaugoth and declare Chhaupdi free village is going on from time to time. But Chhaupadi has not left the society. Women-teenagers have become more and more vulnerable when slums are destroyed without making the society aware. Abolition of Chhaupadi system is essential, but for that, improvement in the program/campaign is necessary.

The state's attention is drawn after publicizing the death or rape of a woman sitting in a neighborhood due to snakebite, suffocation or other reasons. After that, the campaign to break the enclave gained momentum. Gradually the interest of the state disappears. That's what happened in Achham four years ago. After the death of a 20-year-old woman from Sanfebagar-3, Siddheshwar in a slum, more than 10,000 slums in the district were demolished on the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs. But they began to stumble again. Those who did not make a shelter, the women there were forced to live in dens or hanging tarps. Women and teenagers became more vulnerable. Bajhang's Saipal Rural Municipality demolished 6 slums during the Chhaugoth free rural municipality campaign in 075 June. But later, a group of local women continued the Chhaupadi custom by building a two-story shed. Because others are demolishing it, and the locals are building it again, the process of demolishing the neighborhood has decreased in recent times. In other words, the Chhaupadi system continues uninterruptedly.

Various governmental and non-governmental organizations have also launched a public awareness campaign to abolish the Chhaupadi system. Until a few years ago, there were dozens of organizations running such campaigns. The expense they incur is immense. According to the annual report of the Department of Women and Children from 2066/67 to 2074/75, the expenditure incurred by the then district development committee, gauis, now municipality of Karnali and Sudurpaschim in the name of Chhaupadi is more than 1 billion rupees. However, the continuation of the Chhaupadi custom is a question about the effectiveness of the program that was run at that time. Lately, the campaign to abolish Chhaupadi system seems to have slowed down.

The Criminal Code, 2074 has considered Chhaupadi practice as a criminal offence. In Section 168 (3) of the Code, it is stated that 'a woman should not be subjected to confinement or any other kind of discrimination, touching or inhumane treatment during menstruation or childbirth'. Those who commit such an offense are punished with three months imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3,000 or both. If a national servant commits this offence, he will be imprisoned for an additional three months. But the victimized women-teenagers do not dare to file a complaint against their own family members. There are instances where no complaint was filed even when there was a death in Chhaugoth.

Chhaupadi practice is a stigma of the society. Eradication of this custom is difficult unless people's consciousness is changed. Until the society becomes aware, some non-governmental organization or some government agency comes and destroys the neighborhood, rebuilds it or otherwise, the evil will continue. Therefore, public awareness campaigns should be conducted targeting every home and every person. Local government can take effective initiative in this. Every student can be sensitized by having a lesson on this in the local curriculum. Legal action also makes the society cautious. If the society becomes aware, others will not destroy the neighborhood, they will destroy it themselves.