Empowerment Of Women
A Lot Remains To Be Done

By Sanu Maiya Pradhan

AS per the data acquired from the National Population Census 2001, the population of Nepal is 23,314, 681 of which 50.09 per cent are women. Hence their role and responsibility are most important both in the family as well as in the society. However, the status of women in Nepal is not very encouraging as majority of women are illiterate, backward, exploited and discriminated.

The literacy rate of women is only 30 per cent. Right from the time when planned development was initiated in the country education has been given high priority. Primary education is now free, adult education programmes have been launched and campaigns have been initated through the media, both electronic and print. Inspite of such all out efforts of the government a large number of children still are illiterate. It is specially the girl children who have not been able to get education due to traditional reasons and also their day to day rural life. The whole society suffers as a result of such wrong practices.

The maternal morality rate of Nepalese women, who are deprived of health services, is 1500 in every 100,000 which is 567 in South Asia and 384 in developed countries. Similarly, the average life expectancy of Nepalese women is 53.3 years while it is 60.5 years in South Asia and 62.9 in developed countries. As such it is essential to look at the problem of women in the overall social context.

The knowledge and awareness relating to women’s reproductive health has important role in the overall health of women and family size. But in a traditional and male dominated society like ours, women have very little role and decision in the reproductive health and deciding the size of the family. The decision of husband or male members of the family in general and husbands in particular is final.

There are several cases of women suffering from the problem related to reproductive health simply because they were not informed of the consequences. As a result, the rate of maternity deaths and other maternity related complications are high in Nepal. This has been one of the serious problems in the contemporary Nepalese society.

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal has clearly stated that there shall be no discrimination against any citizen on the ground of sex, religion, colour and caste. Despite the constitutional provision, exploitation and discrimination of women have not altogether been eliminated. To ensure women’s empowerment, such laws must be scrapped. The Bill regarding women’s rights must be passed with some amendment in the current session of parliament. The women’s participation in various fields of the society in Nepal has been very low to their population compared. But this traditional concept has slowly changed and women have now started taking part in various decisions making process especially after the restoration of democracy. However, the present situation is far from satisfactory.

With a view to increasing the participation of women in the political, social and economic fields and uplifting the overall condition of women, the government has taken a number of measures in the recent years. The constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 has made the mandatory provision that political parties have to field at least five per cent women while selecting their candidates for general as well as local elections.

Similarly, in the election of the national assembly, the Upper House of Parliament there has to be at least one woman candidate. Such provision has encouraged women to be involved in the legislative and decision making processes. The formation of a ministry devoted to women’s welfare has been another notable step in this regard. However, the women MPS are not fully satisfied with the achievements made in the task of women empowerment. The proportion of women’s representation in the parliament is so low that their voice is hardly heard.

There are only five percent of women in government services and the number at the decision-making leved is almost nil. The government should give more attention towards career development of women in order to increase their participation.

Despite their hard labour and significant inputs in household economy, their worth has not been fully recognised. The backwardness and underdeveloped condition of the country is partly attributed to the poor status of Nepalese women in the social and economic sector. There is no doubt that the country cannot develop so long as half of it’s population remain backward, exploited and discriminated are not given equal opportunity and share in the economic and other sectors of the society. The slow pace of development of the nation is attributed to, among others, the failure to bring women into the mainstream of development.

Given the poor situation of Nepalese women, many programmes have been launched for the empowerment of women and improvement in their social and economic conditions.One of the components of the government’s

poverty alleviation programme is the empowerment of women both socially and economically. It has been realised that unless the strength and capacity of women were not utilised and mobilised properly campaign of poverty alleviation cannot achieve the desired goal. The government has announced "BP With The Poor" scheme in order to bring the unpriviledged sections of the society including backward women into the mainstream of development. Under the programme more than 65,499 women from 940 village development committees of the country would be given training on group education, skill development, self employment, public health and cooperatives.

Though over 90 per cent of the women depend on agriculture the return from this is almost nil. As the country’s limited resources cannot afford to launch big industries, small and medium enterprises would be appropriate for the industrial development. Efforts to encourage and equip women to develop their own enterprises would go a long way in the nation’s industrialisation and development initiatives.

Women face different types of psychological problems too related to sexual harassment at workplace i.e. degradation of physical and mental health, decrease in earning loss of job etc. Domestic violence against women takes place in different forms. It includes sexual abuse, torture, trafficking, rape and dowry. The government has come forward with a broad policy framework that consists of awareness creation, advocacy, networking and social mobilisation. Many NGO’s have been active in creating public awareness against violence. The government has identified gender equality and women’s empowerment as major policy.

As development is meaningless without the development of women a national women’s commission is essential. The commission could play a key role in insuring the participation of women in the economic social and political fields. The womenfolk of rural areas also should be brought into the mainstream. It is high time that both men and women worked on the same footing. The constitution guarantees equal rights to all but the necessity is to translate them into real life. It is the duty of all to work unitedly, without discrimination, so that women too will be able to contribute their full capacity.

Improvement In Civic Education Desired

THE concept of civic education involves a wide range of issues, emanating from building up of an individual with morale and human values right from the household to inculcating civic sense in his/her character build up from the schools to advanced studies in schools ad university. It is understood that the concept of civic education, particularly its understanding, begins from his home, to his society and community, to the nation where a citizen partakes the values of democracy and yet thrives to see that democratic practices are evolved and passed on to the next generation to uphold the national objectives of equality in a democratic set-up.

We hold to a set of beliefs in which we belong to the members of society and as citizens of this nation we have certain rights and responsibilities to be realised and shared. Democracy is still in its infancy in Nepal and needs time to develop. Naturally, citizens seek to retain positive attitude towards democracy, human rights, peace, co-operation and development. Yet how can we promote this democratic culture in a situation where economic integration of the world into a single market is coloring the vision of social and political justice is the main question? It is a challenge of normative kind. Yet to retain positive attitude towards democracy, we need to inculcate and develop civic sense so that democracy can thrive in to the future.

A least developed country like Nepal, and particularly its citizen, who are on epitome of poverty, suffer from poor nutrition and diseases. Most of the people live in villages. They drink water which is neither safe nor clean. From birth to death they remain a destitute. Flood, famine, drought and other natural disasters continually plague them. They cannot buy books for their children nor can they pay fees for the quality education. Indeed the presence of the poor and hungry among us is a challenge to all our moral principles or democratic set-up and values. How can we, in a grim situation like this, promote civic education?

In the last twelve years, their has been general discussion on the importance of civic education but a majority of our people are not aware of civic consciousness. They might have participated in voting but they might not yet understand the real significance and importance of vote. It thus remains to be seen how such a large mass of population be augmented with the civic idea of choosing the right candidate, how to uplift oneself from partisan interest. A massive amount of work is yet to be done to understand how democracy works in a country like Nepal.

Citizens should take an active role in pressuring government officials and politicians to meet their demands. For example, citizens should meet with their local officials to insist that rubbish be collected or drinking water pipelines or electric lines be distributed in their villages. This example demonstrates how citizens can participate in and make their demands met and hence understand their political process. Similarly the students, parents, teachers, staff and community members should be involved in establishing goals based on tolerance, acceptance and choice and the awareness of how one person’s action or the action of a group can affect others. This awareness can be generated from the school, where they should be taught the importance of civic education not only as a subject in itself but also by integrating civic values in other subjects like literature, political history, geography, etc.

Our school education system as we all know comprises five years of primary education, three years of lower secondary education, two years of secondary education and two years of higher secondary education. The structure of tertiary education consists of 3 years of Bachelor’s degree followed by 2 years of master degree programme. In all these ladders of the education system we have to seriously devise the content and curriculum in such a way that civic consciousness is aroused in the student psyche, right from the primary level to the master degree programme. The contents have to be devised in such a way where all the disciplines-art, commerce and science-are given the right amount of civic education. Therefore it is essential that the people have basic understanding of the process of democracy and its implication in the total development of the country. Similarly, all the participation in nation making-i.e. students, teachers, parents and school management committee and local representatives can play important roles in this regard. But Nepal’s democracy is still in its infancy and needs time to strengthen and improve. We must be patient and realistic about our expectations and dedicate to evolve an education system which will contribute to shape an effective civic education programme.

The Clever Corrupt

By PNK

WHEN it comes to neck high there are bound to be changes rather unexpected. It’s not a Sunday every day after all. The extravaganzas and high life style with sleek limousines and evening shopping in Bangkok or Singapore have to come under scrutiny one time or the other. And that’s what the premonitions had been since many years. But, alas, even when the sovereignty is vested in the people they can do nothing but ‘stand and stare’ and work up wonders in their head without in anyway hitting at the perceived target.

Now, the most sought after social evil is supposed to be corruption, whether those who indulge in them like it or not. If it hadn’t been for this form of gains just because one holds a position of strategic importance in whatever form of hierarchy it may be, Nepal would still be a rich country inhabited by the poor. But the corrupt see gold glittering in everything. You must have heard of people sifting for gold in sand and it’s true here for those with the evil bent of mind.

Having coming across many people there are some impressions in my mind. They say that a 10 per cent commission is the standard rate of dealing to come into effect. And it’s not the individuals that have to pay but it’s the company or office or corporation or whatever form of set up it may be. The businesspeople aren’t fools to pay from their pocket, they know the way to get back their money, an investment you may call it to clinch the deal, some time later with more than the usual rate of interest. Compute it at compound interest and what not but you’ll never be able to get at the amount unless you yourself are a shrewd businessperson or have your evening cuppa tea with those in such commission business.

You don’t have to be very versed in the complicated business world but you got to have the right political approaches. Once done, it’s cheese all the way to the finish line with bulging pockets. There’s none to question you and you’re made for, who knows, seven more rebirths.

The only trouble of being corrupt is that once you’re in business, you can’t just walk out of it. You get steeped into it as if that was the only way to be a part of the social elite. When others talk of thousands you can talk of millions or even go into billions. It’s not imagination playing but a part and parcel of life in the position that you are.

Once you have got the taste, like a man eater(tiger), nothing can satisfy your taste buds other than going for corruption. A few rupees now will drive the hunger for hundred and then higher up all the time. There is no stopping unless God feels recalling you back to heaven or hell whatever that may be. It could be heaven after death if you’ve spent your mornings in prayers howsoever you might have spent your day times and evenings. And the corrupt know no way to spend their evenings but throw away a bit of the ill gotten wealth for free.

Hoarse anyone else may cry but action doesn’t come easily as Bertrand Russell has observed in one of his essays. It was the same then, otherwise who would have grumbled. But as the Saviour is never too far when sin overflows the pot, it’s time that the corrupt be answerable. Maybe that’s why the commission to investigate the wealth in whatever form it may is almost ready to swing into action once it is formed. But, let’s not be cynic for a moment.