By Ajita Rijal/ Sher Bahadur Sharki

Bajura, Feb. 6: After an aggressive government drive to demolish the menstrual sheds, women and girls have started staying inside their homes during periods in Bajura.
As soon as the state directed menstruating women to stay inside homes, the girls and women here are having cozy and healthy stay for four to five days during their monthly periods.
The shed of Pabitra Kunwar of Budhiganga Municipality-8 was destroyed a month ago. She was happy to see demolished shed where she would never have to stay during her periods.
“Nothing bad has happened to me and my family after I shifted inside the home during my periods,” said Kunwar.
According to ward member Surendra Bahadur Thapa of the municipality, every household was found to have a separate room inside the house meant for menstruating daughters and daughters-in-law.
Maheshwori Jaisi, sister-in-law of Dharmaraj Jaisi, Ward Chairman of Budiganga Municipality 10, said she was happy to stay inside the house during menstruation.
“I stayed inside the Chhaupadi shed for long; instead of making the god happy, I used to suffer a lot in a very congested floor. Now that I am sleeping in my own bed I feel so comfortable.”
Ward Chair Jaisi said that of the 700 households of the ward, 52 were found to have Chhaupadi sheds and all of them have been demolished now.
Deputy Mayor of Badimalika Municipality, Kabita Bista, said that the municipality had witnessed significant drop in the number of women sleeping in sheds during their periods.
“We have started a campaign to raise awareness for staying safe and healthy during the monthly period. The women are asked to pay attention to sanitation and safety,” said Bista.
The shamans and youths are also mobilised for demolition of sheds which were dangerous to stay during menstruation, she added.
Our municipality has started providing training for women to make the sanitary pads, considering the hygiene of women, said Bista, adding 44 women were already trained.
Ganga Prasad Neupane, Chief District Officer of Bajura, said that the DAO had prioritized the demolition of those sheds which were far away from residential homes, without windows and doors, and were dark and congested with no space to even stretch the legs.
“Our office has started collecting the signature from the service seekers for keeping the menstruating women and girls inside the house during the periods.”
According to DAO, around 400 Chhaupadi sheds were demolished in Bajura district.
“We have also started distributing pamphlets which provide information about the downsides of keeping women inside Chhaupadi sheds to every service seekers,” added Neupane.
Chhaupadi sheds were found a bit far from home where women and girls used to be secluded during monthly periods. While staying inside the sheds women faced the menace of snakes, wild animals and also suffered from suffocation, shortness of breath and even death.