Women's Day Message

The Jal Samadhi taken by Yogamaya Neupane on June 31, 1998 is considered as the beginning of the women's movement in Nepal. Due to the efforts made by the women's committee formed under her leadership in 1974 against the existing social and cultural injustice and the struggle for women's rights since then, the government's statutory law in 2004 enabled Nepali women to get human rights, education rights, equal voting rights, among other rights. Adarsh ​​Mahila Samaj was established in Jayanagar, India in 2003 under the chairmanship of Remanth Kumari Acharya. A year after that, in 2004, the Nepal Women's Association was formed in Kathmandu under the chairmanship of Mangaladevi Singh. Both organizations worked to exert pressure against child marriage and illiteracy prevalent in the Rana regime and society.

Akhil Nepal Mahila Sangh was established in 2006 in Raxaul, India. Likewise, the All Nepal Women's Organization was formed under the leadership of Punya Prabhadevi. After the change of 2007, the Nepal Mahila Sangha under the chairmanship of Mangaladevi Singh remained close to the ideas of the Nepali Congress, while the Nepal Mahila Sanghagan, headed by Kamaksha Devi, joined the Communist Party. In the 2015 First House of Representatives elections, only Dwarikadevi Thakurani was elected out of 15 women candidates for 105 seats.

The role of women is important in Nepal's history and major changes. In the war against the British in Nalapani, Nepal was saved from defeat because of the heroic women. Women also played a strong role in the 2003 Biratnagar jute mill movement, which was the starting point of the 2007 revolution. However, after the success of every movement, when it comes to leadership, the masculinist thinking will dominate. In the constitution, not only one-third of women is mandatory, but one woman in the constitutional position is mandatory. The representation of women at the local level has reached 40 percent. However, if we talk about the last two general elections, the number of women weakened even when the communists formed an alliance in the parliamentary elections. In the 2079 election, the number decreased due to the Congress alliance.

It is a bitter reality that the number of women has been reduced during the alliance, even though there is a mandatory provision of one woman among the heads/deputy heads of the local bodies. When the political parties give tickets in the union and state elections, the results are not going to be good. Nepali Congress, the country's oldest and most democratic party, fielded 5 women as direct candidates in the union elections, but only one was elected.

Although the principles of inclusive and proportional representation are adopted, it is difficult for women to be established in leadership roles. Even now, the presence of women in decision-making positions in political parties is negligible. As long as the number and percentage of women are represented proportionally without making direct candidates, it will take a long time to achieve the goals and objectives adopted by the constitution. Now, as the election law is being made, the field should be determined for women to contest direct elections. So that through the competition between women and women, only women can be elected and reach the position of making laws. It should also be guaranteed that a woman head or deputy head is mandatory even during the alliance.

According to a study, nearly 3 million women are involved in the labor market in Nepal, of which nearly 90 percent are in the informal sector. There is no appreciation for the work done by women in the house and in the fields. We should not forget that the development of the society and the nation is ensured only when women are given equal opportunities. Cases of domestic violence against women are becoming public. Now it is necessary to empower women. The condition of women in Nepal will improve only if equal access to education, health and employment can be progressed.

While celebrating the 114th International Women's Day, the slogan 'Investing in Women: Starting a Civilized and Advanced Society' has been decided. This investment is not only financial, but also social and political. It is necessary to conduct various programs to make them financially capable. When the three levels of government work together to create women-friendly laws and provide financial resources, civilized and advanced construction will begin.

– Sangraula is a Congress central member.