BAJHANG, Dec 30: When Jayanti Joshi experienced her first menstruation in 1983, it was not treated as a natural biological process but as a stigma. She was subjected to mental distress by villagers driven by the deep-rooted belief that girls should not menstruate before marriage, fearing it would ruin their chances of getting married.
Confined to a room during her periods, Joshi nonetheless passed her SLC examinations. Years later, when she returned to her village as a government schoolteacher, a quiet shift began. Attitudes toward menstruation gradually changed, and residents of Jayaprithvi Municipality–10 in Bajhang began sending their daughters to school.
Recalling those days, Joshi said, “We ran campaigns against menstrual discrimination not only at the local level but across the entire district.” For three decades, she and her team have reached communities across Bajhang with positive messaging on menstruation. The government has also rolled out repeated awareness programmes, engaging women, adolescents, daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law. Yet, despite these efforts, women continue to face inhumane treatment during menstruation.
“Discrimination in the name of menstruation doesn’t stop at homes or communities—it happens in public spaces too,” said Laxmi Rawal of Khaptadchhanna Rural Municipality–2, Lamatola. “There have been numerous incidents in public places. While there has been some improvement, the problem persists.”
Menstrual discrimination remains widespread across Bajhang. Ironically, even those leading awareness campaigns have faced it firsthand. “We campaigned extensively for dignified menstruation, yet we ourselves became victims,” said Nepali Congress leader Shanti Bohara Pujara.
An eco-friendly and sustainable approach to menstruation
According to Manisha Dhami, vice-chairperson of Kedarasyu Rural Municipality, demolishing menstrual huts alone has not brought meaningful change. “People think discrimination is only about being forced to stay in huts. It runs much deeper,” she said. “At its core, it stems from entrenched patriarchal thinking.”
142 menstrual huts demolished
In Bajhang, menstrual huts built for women during their periods have been systematically demolished. According to the District Administration Office (DAO), 142 huts were dismantled between December 2019 and February 2020.
Under the DAO’s leadership, the highest number—32 huts—were demolished in Naura of Jayaprithvi Municipality, with 75 huts dismantled across the municipality. On January 6 alone, 19 huts were demolished—three each in Adukali and Selakhet, and 13 in Dhamilek.
“The campaign to demolish menstrual huts was almost nationwide,” said Nand Bahadur Dhami, a computer operator at the DAO. “We demolished them, but villagers rebuilt them. By the second year, most of the structures had reappeared.”
Jayasingh Rokaya, chairperson of Saipal Rural Municipality–4, said that after community huts were demolished, households began constructing their own. “Some even used money from state-provided social security allowances to build menstrual huts,” he said.
Sharmila Bista of Talkot Rural Municipality said that while social attitudes have shifted slightly, discrimination remains deeply entrenched. “The lack of proper education and awareness makes menstruation especially painful for people in remote areas,” she said.
Activist Dr Radha Paudel said menstrual discrimination is not unique to Nepal. “The forms vary—some deny adequate food, others deny safe shelter,” she said, adding that linking menstruation with impurity and shame has also fuelled child marriage.
Several organisations continue to work at the grassroots level to promote dignified menstruation. The Garima Project, which has been active in this field for years, reports a gradual decline in discrimination.
After working for five years in two wards of Khaptadchhanna Rural Municipality in Bajhang and two wards of Khaptadchhededaha Rural Municipality in Bajura, project coordinator Bikram Joshi said progress is visible but limited. He warned that menstrual discrimination has also contributed to broader social problems. “Child marriage, abortion and domestic violence often begin with menstrual discrimination,” he said.
According to the 2021 census, five percent of people in Bajhang are married before the age of 15. The figure rises sharply in Surma Rural Municipality, where 83 percent marry early. In Saipal Rural Municipality, 76 percent of adolescents are married before turning 20.
