The government has tried to intervene, but the centuries-old custom of “chhaupadi” has been difficult to eliminate owing to deep-rooted fears and taboos.
Ramita Rawal (name changed) hasn’t had warm and nutritious food in four days. The 12-year-old has been forced to leave the comfort of her home and made to sleep in a hut nearby, as she’s going through her menstruation.
This is an experience shared every month by many girls and women across Nepal, where those going through their periods are considered “impure.”
