Menstruation Taboo Claims another Victim in Rural Nepal

According to the reports, a lady named Gauri Kumari Bayak became the latest prey of an orthodox social practice in rural Nepal.  The orthodox social practice could be seen among some so-called religious Hindus who believe that menstruating women are impure and they should live alone far from her family and friends. Last time, Gauri Kumari Bayak was seen under the bare sky collecting firewoods and grass for adequate protection from the cold as and she had been forced to live outside in a cold hut.  The police remarked that she had been found dead on January 8.  They also assumed that she might be choked to death as she tried to build a small fire in order to keep herself warm from the cold.

It would be significant to note that Nepal is one of the poorest nations of Asia and there were dozens of women and girls, who had died following this practice in recent years.  Efforts of the Government and campaigns have failed to raise awareness and end this horrible religious tradition.  Menstruating women are often forced to stay outside of their house at night to bed down under grass-roofed huts and sheds.

There are many incidents where the girl is found to be raped or died from exposure to the elements. In 2017, the Nepalese Government had put a prohibition that any individual would be sentenced if he/she forces a menstruating woman to follow the practice. A Nepali women’s rights activist, Radha Paudel remarked that such incidents make her sad. She also added that the family of Bayak was considered well cultured, educated and sophisticated, however religious blindness has ruined it all.