Garima Project (Dignity for Women – Ending Chhaupadi Partha in Nepal
The Garima Project aims to restore dignity to women by promoting safe, hygienic, and discrimination-free menstruation practices. Focused on the Khaptad Chhanna Rural Municipality in Bajhang and Khaptad Chhededaha Rural Municipality in Bajura districts, the project works across sectors to educate, empower, and drive change in the lives of women and girls affected by Chhaupadi Partha) a deeply rooted, harmful cultural practice.
The project’s ultimate goal is to create the necessary conditions to eliminate the most oppressive elements of Chhaupadi and to establish a foundation for women to freely choose safe and respectful menstrual practices. The project is jointly implemented by two non-profit organizations: Green Tara Nepal (GTN) – Leads the overall project management and community-based interventions. and Rural Education and Environment Development Center (REED) Nepal – Leads school-based interventions, focusing on awareness and education. Technical and financial assistance is provided by Karuna Deutschland, Karuna Trust, and BMZ. By empowering women with the agency to lead change, the Garima Project envisions a future where menstruation is treated with dignity and equality.
My name is Punnakala Singh. I am residence of Khaptad Chhanna Rural Municipality-7, Bajhang. I am a member of mother group in my village. I regularly attained monthly meeting.
We have learnt about menstrual hygiene, importance of ANC, institutional delivery and PNC along with nutrition, personal hygiene and sanitation. After participating in several meetings I realized that menstrual behavior we were practicing have lots harmful impacts and have nothing with spiritual power. After realizing that I was trying to change my menstrual behavior. Improvement in hygiene behavior with help provided material is been quite easy than change in the belief, untouchability and food taboos during menstruation. I was trying but not been able to stay inside and consume milk products because i have rooted belief on this tradition and have fear if something bad happen to my family member. In one meeting female community health volunteer of my village share her experience, she said she live inside and consume milk product during menstruation too but nothing happen to her family. This courage me to live inside during menstruation. After staying inside I felt more secure and able to sleep in peace.
Nowadays most of the women of village started to live inside and some of them are being able to eliminated food taboos too. Provided hygiene material like soap, towel, nail cutter, pads, panties and toothpaste and tooth brush are playing vital role in improvement of hygiene of women of village. I could sense that menstrual discrimination is gradually decreasing and women like me are feeling easier and lively during menstruation. Activities of Garima Pariyojana are being impactful for these changes.
Project Activity Photos
