Women's Contribution In Economy
Valuable Input

By Prativa Subedi

WE hear a lot about the plans and policies specifically focused on women's equal access and control over economic resources due to the fact that there is an inequality between women and men. Women are either absent or poorly represented in economic decision making areas at all levels. Insufficient attention to gender analysis has created the situation where women's work is ignored in economic structures. Economics as an academic discipline is complicated and difficult to understand for non-academics.

Barriers

The majority of women who are making a significant contribution are not aware about daily economics. In addition economists are biased about women's contribution. Women's work is less paid and unremunerated which helps to raise the economy's productivity but does not raise women's income directly. Women migrant workers and domestic workers are contributing to the economy by sending their remittances and also through their participation in the labour force. In our country the majority of women are facing many barriers that prohibit their economic autonomy and sustainable livelihoods. Many financial institutions are established in the cities with the introduction of liberalised economic policy. However it is not accessible for majority of the women and they have to depend on loans with high interest from rich villagers.

Women in Nepal are working primarily in the agricultural areas and are involved in income generating activities. Most of the women work in the informal sector because they are restricted from going into the formal sector. They lack education, training, and sufficient services such as childcare. Moreover, they hold the majority of the family's responsibilities, which further prevents them from moving into the formal sector.

However, women are still contributing a lot to our country's economy. Due to the lack of gender sensitive data collection, women's contributions and concerns remain invisible. Many programmes and policies are still insensitive to improve the conditions since they often just perpetuate inequalities between men and women.

Women contribute a very significant percentage to the GDP, but they have very little access to the economic resources that they generate. The agriculture sector contributes 40 per cent of the total GDP of Nepal and out of that total women contribute more than 60 per cent.

In terms of employment, 83 per cent of the labor force is engaged in the agriculture sector while only 17 per cent are working in the non-agriculture sector. The majority of women are employed in the informal and least productive sectors. They usually do not get paid because it is considered part of their traditional household chores. Moreover, women's contribution to the national economy does not get properly accounted because household chores and farm labour do not usually converted into monetary value. Only seven per cent of women work in non-agricultural sectors. Due to the patriarchal nature of our society and discriminatory practices and legal provisions, women are kept in this low status and their work stays invisible.

Lately, women's importance as significant contributor to the nation has been realised. However, the economic and land rights of women is not the main focus. Last year, some laws were amended and inheritance property rights are now given to women but in an impractical way. In other words, a daughter is allowed to inherit her father's property until she gets married. In reality a daughter will not get property with this provision.

For these reasons women are still excluded from economic transactions in the mainstream economic dialogue and, in turn, from the formulation of economic policies. For a decade, women have been questioning the male biased nature of economic policies. With the Maoists violent activities for over seven years economy is badly affected. Through their violent activities in the country they have created terror. Many young people have already died in the name of people's war and while maintaining law and order by government. Many male members of the community have left the villages because of conflict situation. Again women are bound to take all the responsibilities in the absence of male members.

Women's organisations and activists continue to demand gender sensitive economic policies and programmes. The government drew an action plan with the help of non-governmental organisations, industry, the banking sector and academia for women and the economy to become part of the National Plan of Action to implement the commitment made in the world conferences.
The long term objectives for women's economic participation and decision making is to ensure equal economic rights for women by increasing their employment opportunities as well as their access, control and ownership of economic resources. In addition, the goal is to make a true assessment of women's contributions to the national economy by improving the national accounting system.
The main priority of the Tenth Periodical Plan is poverty alleviation, women's empowerment and gender mainstreaming. This plan mentioned many faces of poverty and focused on economic growth, distribution of resources, human resource development, social balance, empowerment and government. In the area of economic and social reform they focus on the reduction of maternal mortality rate, child mortality rate, family planning, primary education, and women's literacy. These plans and programmes are aimed for the populations who are below the poverty line. These issues were also mentioned during the Ninth Periodical Plan but they could not implement them well. So in the Tenth Plan the same issues are stressed. The plans recognise the marginalisation of women in the national economy and a gender mainstreaming strategy has been adopted to reduce gender gaps and disparities at all levels.

Meaningful

However, up to this date, planners have failed to draw examples of women's empowerment from within the country. For the last ten years, many new programmes were introduced instead of strengthening ongoing meaningful programmes. Development work should be valued more than the strategies of party political interests.

Sexual Taboos Hamper Fight Against AIDS

By Keya Acharya

WITH talk of sex in Indian society being taboo, male to male sexuality is hardly recognised in HIV research and policy-making. And yet, India's male homosexual population is estimated at a considerable 50 million India's community of men who have sex with men is eagerly awaiting a Delhi High Court judgement on a December 2001 petition to decriminalise homosexual behaviour.

Petition

The petition, filed by the Lawyers' Collective on behalf of the Delhi-based nongovernmental group Naz Foundation Trust, wants the government to repeal Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which it says is a "major impediment" in carrying out HIV/AIDS work among men who have sex with men (MSM).
It has asked that the section cover only child sexual assault and exclude consensual sexual activities between adults.

But even while this case awaits a decision, some experts doubt that repeal in the law will improve the country's approach to HIV/AIDS prevention among MSMs.

Researchers at the universities of Plymouth, Britain, and Amsterdam, The Netherlands, say that because talk of sex itself is taboo in Indian society, male to male sexuality is hardly recognised in HIV research and policy-making.

The country's male homosexual population is estimated at a considerable 50 million by the Mumbai-based Hamsafar Trust. Criminalised under Section 377 and pressurised by mainstream family culture to marry, many seek out same-sex partners in an undercover world.

What makes HIV prevention among MSMs harder still is the lack of a single gay identity in India, says Sheena Asthana of Plymouth University. The researchers identified several categories of men who have sex with men. According to Asthana, "very few of these men would even identify themselves as 'gay'."

The groups include: hijras, men who may or may not be emasculated and who dress permanently as women; kothis, who have overtly feminine traits; and panthis, the kothi's partner. Theoretically identified as the overtly masculine sexual partner, he could be a father, brother or son who considers himself to be 'straight'.

The implications of HIV spreading to wives and unborn children through their panthi husbands is worrying.

"These patterns are important for both the transmission of HIV and its prevention," says Asthana.
In the West, in part because of the development and acceptance of a positive 'gay' identity, homosexual activity has become more narrowly defined. Gay men tend to have sex with other gay men and there has been a drop in the numbers of men who have sex with other men who are also involved in heterosexual relationships.

"In India, by contrast, panthis provide a bridge between heterosexual and homosexual circuits and a high level of bisexual activity tends to facilitate the rapid spread of HIV," adds Asthana.
In a cramped office that doubles as a medical clinic-cum-lunchroom in a busy commercial street in the southern city of Bangalore, a group of young MSMs meet to share their experiences.
Trained by the NGO Jagruti to disseminate sexual health information and condoms in Bangalore's cruising areas - parks, movie theatres and public toilets - they say that most clients are panthis. They also say that less than 50 per cent of practising sex workers use condoms for fear of losing their clients.

The relief of being able to open up and talk about their almost-surreal daily existence is palpable among the group.

"You keep your condom ready in your hand inside your pocket while you tell your client to go into the bushes for secrecy. Then you quickly tear the wrapper, cover your mouth as though coughing and place the condom on your tongue like an inverted foot-sock, ready for the penis," demonstrates a field-staffer, who did not want his name divulged.

According to the government agency National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), there are 3.8 million cases of HIV in India. But the government seems to be ignoring the MSM issue.

India's national message on safe sex does not highlight same-sex behaviour. As a result the majority, including most MSMs, think that heterosexual and multiple partner behaviour are the only cause of the spread of HIV.

Condom-usage appears to be the government's main 'field tool' in its AIDS control programme. But condoms distributed by each state's AIDS department are usually unsuitable for oral and anal sex, and most cash-strapped NGOs are hard put to buy and distribute other kinds of condoms. The government policy also promotes monogamy, saying people should be faithful to one partner.
This has made it difficult for women to negotiate safer-sex options in India's male-dominated society. If one partner asks the other to use a condom, the former stands accused of suspecting the other of infidelity, says Elavarthi Manohar of Bangalore-based sexual-minority organisation Sangama.
Dr Venkatesan Chakrapani, co-ordinator of the Chennai-based Solidarity & Action Against The HIV Infection In India, a countrywide network of NGOs, warns against targeting MSMs as a separate group. Homosexual behaviour also happens in non-MSM groups such as truckers, drug-users and prison inmates, he says. "Acknowledging this and providing common prevention messages such as safer-sex in same-sex behaviour is a possible solution."

Evidence

There is some evidence that same sex behaviour occurs among the police as well. Commercial sex workers complain that policemen use rounded-up suspects for sex. Police have also used Section 377 to arrest NGO workers and refuse them bail.

If the Naz Foundation Trust petition cannot change India's social mindset, it may at least stop such misdemeanours by the police - it specifically asks that Section 377 should not be misused by the police.

(PANOS)

Captivating Kathmandu

By Narayana Upadhyay

NO, No, Yours Truly is not going to write about the same old stuff that has been jotted down for nth time. Let us not direct our attention to pollution, shortage of water, and lack of basic living amenities in the capital. These topics have been and will continue to be an important polemic for many international, national organisations and the government authorities.

We should leave the issue to the experts and the city managers so that they may mouth meritorious mantras to make the city muck free, despite some wags claiming that the ancient riverbed has become more sullied and dirty. It is probably because the city planners have so far been unable to cope with the hordes of people producing tonnes of garbage that keeps piling up, and smoke-belching vehicles jam the city roads every now and then.

The Maoists' turning the capital into a place for exploding raw bombs and affecting city's life with the frequent calls of total shutdowns are other pressing problems for the city bosses, troubled also by frequent political rallies, meetings, sit-ins and hunger strikes.

Why should we be bothered that seminars, workshops and parleys have failed to clean up the city's litters, smokes, jumbled settlement and political discords too? Even if the grubby capital waits for a proper blueprint to be lit up with its past grandeur, we, the dwellers of this serene city, must direct our concentration to those basic entities that captivate us. Here are some of them:

It is true when the capital is hosting big international events, the metropolitan bosses come out of their hibernation with plans that even become the envy of mega polis bureaucrats. An ugly crossroad is turned into a good-looking park and an open barren piece of land is promptly replenished with green grass overnight.

Overhead bridges pop up out of nowhere and blacktopped sleek roads add an aura to the city's new look. Watertight security is promptly put on place in case any act of vandalism takes place. When big hours herald, Kathmanduites are the happiest men in the world.

If you have a hobby to hop places, then you might take all negative comments about the poet Bhanubhakta's Amarawati or the Kingdom of god Indra, as total crass. Because negative uttering about the city has not been able to douse the peoples' enthusiasm in being attracted to the metropolis for so many years.

Kathmandu, with all its litters, dust and smoke, is one of the cool capitals in South Asia. Weather is one of the brightest points of this city. Those who want to beat the heat should come to the city-any time of the year.

The city is one of the inexpensive destinations boasting of five world heritage tourist sites within 15 kilometers radius. As people from across the nation come to settle, the Kathmandu's melting pot provides an enthralling picture of different Nepali cultures.

Mountaineers who want to climb any of eight peaks with heights more than 8,000 meters must come here first to have all the accessories and tips for climbing the dangerous Nepalese Himalayas.
Unlike other capital, the city's downtown is very close to the nation's only international airport, linked with the world's major cities. It has good five star hotels that offer accommodation relatively at lower prices. Restaurants and cafés are always eager to cater excellent food of every kind. The town is also awash with goods with fakes and genuine brands. For Chinese and Indian goods, garments and other accessories, the city is a haven.

The effect of revolution in InfoTech has come to the foothills of the Himalayas too. You will face no conundrum over the international connectivity while you are in Kathmandu. The number of cyber-cafes has surpassed the number of temples here.

If you are fed-up with the hubbub of the city, then you can drive to nearby places where good hotels and inns provide you a view of lovely landscapes along with tranquil of mind. In case, these do not suffice to satiate you, and you love to be having some heavy breaths, then you can visit to discotheques and dance restaurants here. You can even make a dash to the cabin restaurants where many belles are ready to serve you foods, drinks and more. You have to remember one thing however- while in cabin restaurants, never mind the prices of foods and drinks.