Activated After Two Years
Women leaders are all set to end gender discrimination after the reconstitution of the National Women Commission
By A CORRESPONDENT
Within a month of the constitution of the National Women Commission for the second time, it has announced various new strategies to address the women issues in the country. Chaired by energetic woman leader Bandana Rana- who previously chaired the Sancharika Samuha and was affiliated to various other social organizations-and comprised of leaders of various fronts, the commission has new challenges ranging from drafting the operating procedures of the commission to bringing out and implementing strategies to end social injustice ensued by gender discrimination.
Despite such challenges Rana expressed her strong commitment for a revolution with an objective of a just society with gender equality. “The main role of the NWC is to act as a catalyst,” said Rana addressing an introductory interaction program organized by the commission at its office. “It basically suggests the government to formulate strategies for social justice based on gender equality and pressurize for its implementation.”
While, the commission has a huge responsibility of advocating as well as working to end the social discrimination and empowering women, it also has a difficult task of overcoming the internal differences. The first commission, which was constituted in March 2002 under the presidentship of Dr Durga Pokharel, had not been able to function properly because of wide differences among the members of the commission.
The tenure of the commission ended bitterly after a wrangling among the members of the commission. To make the situation worse, the vacant commission was never filled until recently due to the political unrest, leaving the problems of women in destitution. Nepalese government formed the Women’s Commission in an initiative to address the women issues more effectively after expressing commitment for achieving gender equality in fourth Women’s Convention of the member states of UN in Beijing in 1995.
Coincidentally, the erstwhile president Pokharel is the departmental minister in the present cabinet. During her tenure as the president of the Women’s Commission, Dr Pokharel had publicly expressed her discontent with her colleagues at the commission and revealed that she was facing hurdles to implement her programs because of them. The present president Bandana Rana was one of the members she had differences with.
The speculation now is, will a shadow of the past relation between the president of the commission and the departmental minister hover over the functioning of the present commission.
“Personal grievances won’t matter,” chairperson Rana says. “After all our objective is the same – the end of social injustice ensued by gender discrimination.”
“The commission formed earlier could not function properly because the commission was formed with representations from various political parties,” said state minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Dr Pokharel. “The issues they raised used to be the agenda of their parties rather than genuine women issues.”
As the old adage goes, ‘well beginning is half done’, the commission has done a laudable job by promptly announcing its strategies. President Rana informed that the commission would hold other interaction meetings with functional organizations.
In the recent years, a lot of programs are targeted for social justice. Through donor agencies, a lot of money is poured for such projects.
“The expenditure in health and education has doubled in the last three years. Most of this amount is used for girl education and reducing maternal mortality rate,” said Dr Shankar Sharma, vice-chairperson of National Planning Commission. “870 million rupees is was used for scholarships now compared to 120 million three years ago, ” he said. “All Dalit students and seven lacs more girls are getting scholarship in primary education.”
However, the programs are not giving out the targeted results as expected. The newer dimensions of women issues ensued by the ongoing the conflict could be one reason for the failure in expected results.
State minister Pokharel points out at a systematic failure. Expressing her anger over the patriarchal society. “Women are systematically discriminated earlier through bondages in religion and now through the laws,” said Dr Pokharel. She also revealed that there are 22 articles in the Constitution 137 Acts that are discriminatory against women. She urged all women to work together to end such psyche in the society. “I urge all women to vote for women candidates whichever party they may represent when the elections happen,” she said.
Planners point out at the economic situation as the cause of gender inequality. “Gender equality will not be achieved until and unless women own their properties and have access to economic activities so that they can earn and spend on their own,” said Dr Sharma.
