Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district administration had a great start to the year as they launched a year-long programme to put an end to the practice of isolating women to cattle-sheds.
The programme is called Naari Samman (women's pride) and aims to spread awareness and break taboos relating to menstruation.
Menstruating women are forced to live in cattle-sheds every month in 91 of the 204 panchayats in the district, according to a survey by the Kullu administration.
The problem is not just confined to Kullu, but women all over the country face all kinds of discrimination due to the age-old belief that menstruating women can bring ‘bad luck’ and are considered ‘impure’.
Similar traditions were normal in Nepal until August 2017, when the government passed a law criminalizing the tradition. Girls and women were forced out of their homes into a shed during their periods.
The administration body has also joined hands with local theatre artistes and folk groups. “It’s a very good initiative that will help in ending discrimination against women in villages,” Kullu zila parishad chairperson Rohini Chaudhary said.
