Good, Bold Move

THE restoration of democracy in 1990 brought multiparty system in Nepal, vesting people the right to elect their representatives and made the electorate and the elected responsible and accountable to each other. The Nepalese thus became the stakeholders in the system for the first time in over thirty years and the people-politics partnership did bring cheers to the people who had been reeling under poverty. After the first democratically elected government was installed in 1991, Nepal really got started and the pace of development did pick up. That same year Nepal adopted a liberal economic policy, throwing open the doors for foreign investments and national industries that were not faring well were privatised. The government initiated an aggressive reform campaign and it had a very positive impact on the overall economy of the country. The gross domestic product grew and inflation was brought under control, but the drive came to a sudden halt in the mid-nineties. The mid-term election of 1994 created a hung parliament and political parties concentrated themselves in the power game. Political instability took its toll on the ongoing development activities, corruption became rampant and all kinds of unethical practices took place. The government became weak, people began to be sceptical about the system and the leaders, and Nepal started inching backwards. No government could arrest the negative trend. Political leaders did commit themselves to the fight against corruption, but failed to act upon the corrupt. Often they indulged in amassing property, regardless of the costs the nation would have to bear. Sensing that the situation was going out of control gradually, the government this week made a submission to His Majesty the King to appoint a three member judicial commission for investigation of properties registered in the names of those who have been holding public posts since the restoration of multiparty democracy. His Majesty constituted the commission on Friday. The commission, headed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, has also been given the responsibility to launch a probe on the property registered in the names of the family members. As per the terms of reference, the commission has been mandated to acquire statements regarding property and submit a report to the government within six months from the day the commission begins its work. That brings a piece of good news to the people and infuses hopes in the lives of many. The people, the political parties and the civil society at large now must extend co-operation to the commission in carrying out its task successfully. Once the report is submitted, the government should see to it that it is implemented impartially and fully.

Pledge For Gender Equality

IT IS difficult to imagine a world without women and perhaps as a token of salute to all women, the International Women’s Day was observed yesterday. It is a matter of serious concern that women suffer from many inequalities in virtually all parts of the world, though it is difficult to fathom how much the observation of the Women’s Day will help them lead a better life. Specially in the developing world, the fairer sex, right from the time they are born, are treated as lesser beings than their male counterparts and on most occasions given an unfair deal economically, politically and socially. The irony is that it is the women folk who put in more hard work for any family. Women in both rural and urban areas, whether they are housewives or professionals, work more than men do. Depicting the poor state of women in the country, a report mentions that apart from the teaching profession, women lag behind men in virtually all sectors. For example, out of the 265 members in Parliament, only 21 are women, that also mainly because a certain quota has been set aside for them. Similarly, out of the 604 gazetted first class government employees, only 24 are women. There are no secretary level women in ministries, though some have made it to this top bureaucratic post in the past.

However, it is also true that women need to first change their own attitude for the improvement of their social status. Their activities, as observed by even women activists, themselves sometimes stand in the way of building an egalitarian society. They admit that many a times women themselves perpetrate crimes against other women. But it has to be understood that it is the society that has forced women to act in that manner. Therefore, first of all, before initiating any other programmes for women’s welfare, there is an urgent need to create awareness amongst all people that women are no lesser beings than men. Professional women, including those in the legal sector, can play an important role in creating such awareness in the society and also building confidence among other women. As we observe the 92nd International Women’s Day, apart from participating in the routine functions where more talk than commitments are made, let us pledge to seriously work to bring gender equality in the entire world one day and not allow women to suffer just because they are women.