Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed serious concern over the death of a woman in Achham district while practicing Chhaupadi, a tradition that banishes menstruating women to live in sheds outside the houses. 

Twenty-one-year old Dambara Upadhaya from Timilsena village in Accham in Farwest Nepal died in the shed where she had been forced to live alone as a part of the tradition. 

Women from rural districts in the far-western region are sent to live in animal sheds or secluded area while they are having periods. There is a belief that menstruating girls and women are impure and are not allowed to enter their house or pass by a temple. 

Dahal made a call to Kushal Raj Sharma, chief district officer in Achham, and directed him to provide details and devise necessary programmes and measures to put an end to Chhaupadi tradition, said Govinda Acharya, PM’s press advisor. 

According to Acharya, Dahal directed CDO Acharya to call a stakeholders meeting at the earliest and discuss ways, including raising public awareness, to discourage bad practices prevalent in the society. 

The PM also asked the district authorities to make the donors and non-governmental organisations accountable to deliver appropriate results in empowering girls and women. 

Sharma said he would launch a through investigation into Upadhaya’s death and hold discussions with the stakeholders to take necessary measures for ending the practice.