While walking through the villages to villages in
Dailekh, I met Kamala (name changed), married, adolescent girl. She smiled and
pointed the shed and shared, 'my sister in law and myself started to use my
maternal shed during menstruation because shed of maternal house is clean than
here'. Kamala's father was at home, he
bit furious and said, our shed is extremely clean so why should you worry. Another,
newly elected leader from Nepali Congress also worked as Dhami claimed that he
is not asking women to stay in cowshed or women are living in clean shed. Just
before them, the leader from CPN Maoist shouted that Dailekh has not Chhaupadi
anymore. It has already abolished by them during war time. The NGOs and
government were making fake reports, he added. The leader from UML also claimed
that Dailekh has not have problem as far west Nepal, all are living in clean
sheds. In other hand, school going children and women account that girls and
women staying the outside of home during Pakha
lageko bela (menstruation). It could be separate house or shed or farm or
beside of hay or firewood. They use traditional material (ghum) for protecting
from rain.
Clean shed Vs
Human Right
In general speaking, the clean shed is better than dirty or
cattle shed. It somehow signifies the constitutional right article 37, 'right
to healthy environment' with some questions such as adequate space for
sleeping, cleansing, ventilation, warm. Does this clean shed fulfil human
rights of a girl and woman who menstruate as guarantee by constitution 2015.
The clean shed is violation of human right of a girl/woman where the gender
inequality and discrimination institutionalised in many ways.
Constitutional
rights Vs Clean Shed:
The menstrual rights are mentioned directly and indirectly
in the permeable of Constitution 2015 as well as 10 various articles under
fundamental rights; right to dignified life (article 16), right to freedom
(article 17), right to equality (article 18), right to against discrimination
and contamination (article 24), right to healthy environment (article 30),
right to education (article 31), right to health (article 35), right to food
(article 36), right to house (article 37), right to women (article 38). Here,
how does clean shed ensure the rights of a girl who menstruate and living in
clean shed. Can she live along with her family members? Can she accompany with
her friends for school? Can she touch her men and senior family members of
family and neighbours? Can she mobile freely? Can she join any cultural/social
activities of family and community? Can
she touch the plants of fruits, and vegetables? Can she eat any milk and meat
product? Does this clean shed protect girl from any attack from alcoholic or
bad man or wild animals or snake? Does this clean shed allow to use any water
source, toilet, temple, school, sanitary materials freely? Does this clean shed
provide adequate clothing and sanitary materials? Does this clean shed build
agency of a girl to grow as equal as boy of her age? Does this clean shed
convey the message of menstruation is biological and essential process of human
existence? To me, clean shed doesn't answer almost all questions today and
never ever.
Clean shed is an
informal educational institution
While using clean shed, girl is facing lots of issues
related peace, human right and empowerment which mostly not visible without
human right friendly approach. But it is conveying widely and deeply the
message of power, gender discrimination, masculinity as infrastructure. Even
the young children ages from 4-5 years started to understand the difference
between women and men or girl and boy by following the activities of girl or
woman who is using clean shed. In village, a shed is being used by many
households and somewhere made for communal purpose too. The heart and brain of
a girl who is using clean shed is shrinking severely. She started to lose her
agency in many ways whereas the boy learned in opposite direction. Thus, the
girls are experiencing the humiliation, low esteem, low morale constantly no
matter whether she lives inside or not. Because it is made for her. She bleeds
for five days in a month but the clean shed is standing next to her and
neighbours house and piercing the girl
24/7 hours.
Confusion on
Menstrual Rights Campaign
May 28 is started to celebrate as International Menstrual
day globally since 2014 when the UN declared that the restrictions related to
menstruation is underlying cause for inequality. The few defined and focused on
hygiene, others defined and focused health and others defined and focused on
rights as whole. Other school of thought is also in practice, claimed as
menstrual rights instead of others. To me, menstruation is a biological process
and human right concern thus it is everyone's business. By considering the understandings,
associated myths, rumours, illness, needs, priorities specially in Nepalese
context, the intervention should be in holistic in nature. It is beyond the
matter of clean or dirty shed or number of toilets in school or infrastructure
or sanitary pads. the first and foremost principle is dignity. Menstruation is
embedded with private to public and vice versa. It is also a political though
seems personal per see. It is multifaceted issue. Unfortunately, Nepali actors are
more focused on infrastructure and many advocating for clean and communal
sheds. And many actors preaching for either abandon or demolish the shed
without rational behind it. More importantly they are practising by themselves
at their private as well public life. They are asking excuses for the sake of
grandparents, in laws, god, culture etc. As a result, the campaign is already
failure where villagers started to construct the shed for continue the practice
in Chhaupadi free declared community in Achham e.g. a 15 years girl dead in
shed during menstruation (November 2016).
Way Forward:
It is highly appreciated that the Ministry of Water Supply
and Sanitation is taking lead role to draft the policy on it (April 2017). The common understanding on issues and
strategies among all stakeholder, the government should expedite its action by
urging all stakeholders to incorporate menstruation is a cross cutting issue
across all actors and level. Because menstrual rights is the key element for
achieving overarching goal of peace, justice, human right, empowerment and
pre-condition to achieve sustainable development goals 2030.
I have shared this article for Kathmandu Post
