Kanchanpur, Nepal.
Kamala Aauji, 28, from Krishnapur Municipality–1, Nigali, in far-western Nepal, had all the basic amenities to live a safe and dignified life—a concrete house, a well-lit room, and a secure bed. But the onset of menstruation turned her home into a forbidden space. Due to entrenched menstrual taboos and discrimination, she was banished to a cramped, dark, and dilapidated shed just outside her house—a visible symbol of menstrual exclusion.
There was no electricity, no proper bedding, and certainly no safety. Around 12:30 a.m. on Friday night, when the village lay fast asleep, Kamala too was likely asleep inside the shed. Suddenly, a venomous krait snake slithered in and bit her. She was rushed to the Seti Provincial Hospital, but by Saturday morning, she was dead.
This is not merely a case of snakebite. This is a brutal testament to the institutional violence, social ostracization, and deep-rooted superstitions surrounding menstruation that women in Nepal continue to face. Kamala’s death is not an accident—it is a consequence of societal silence, cultural stigma, and systemic negligence.
Three Decades of Dialogue, Yet Deaths Continue
It has been over three decades since the discourse around dignified menstruation began in Nepal. Kamala’s village had seen campaigns to demolish menstrual huts. Yet, when it mattered most, neither society nor the state took the danger of menstrual discrimination seriously enough. And so, Kamala’s life ended in the very shed she should never have been forced into. These tragedies are not isolated incidents—they are preventable, systemic failures.
Resolution Passed, But Government Remains Silent
Only three months ago, Nepal’s National Assembly passed a resolution on “Dignified Menstruation.” It was a milestone—on paper. But since then, the relevant government bodies have remained silent. Policies exist, but there is no allocated budget, no programs, and no clear implementation strategy.
No one has taught women like Kamala why they should not have to change their bed, their plate, or their daily routines during menstruation. Instead, for five days each month, menstruating individuals are stripped of their fundamental rights and freedoms, often forced into isolation.
Local Governments Largely Indifferent
The situation at the local level is even more disappointing. Most municipalities lack menstrual health programs, budgets, and initiatives. Except for a few exceptions, local leaders still perceive menstruation as impure.
In the name of intervention, some distribute sanitary pads, often made with plastic and harmful chemicals, but the deeper question of dignity remains unaddressed.
For 25 days of the month, women are full citizens. But for the five days they menstruate, they are treated as outcasts.
The State’s Apathy and a Slow Health System
A snake bit Kamala in the middle of the night. Yet even when the family managed to rush her to the hospital, the healthcare system failed to save her. Thousands of women in Nepal are forced into sheds during their periods, exposing them to dangers like snakebites, insect attacks, freezing temperatures, or even fire.
Still, the government at all three levels shows little sensitivity to these risks. Our health policies, women’s rights programs, and emergency services appear blind to the realities of menstrual discrimination and its consequences.
