Former President Vidya Devi Bhandari has said that it is time to prove that women are also capable of leadership. Bhandari expressed this view while addressing the opening ceremony of the Great Women's Conference-2082 on 'Women: Strength, Dedication and Respect' organized by Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday.

"Women's contribution to society has not yet received the expected respect," she said. He said that women playing a leading role in industry, trade and entrepreneurship in a commercial center like Birganj is not only a personal success but also a journey to strengthen the country's economy.

Pointing out that women's entrepreneurship needs respect and encouragement, Bhandari said that women should move forward to inspire the next generation. Mentioning the need to break the existing gender inequality, prejudice and barriers in the society, she opined that for this, women should become self-confident in a positive manner and take the leadership of change by challenging the society.

He said that the dream of equality, sustainable development and prosperous Nepal can be fulfilled only if women's strength, sacrifice and dedication are respected institutionally.

Mentioning that Nepal is a country rich in natural resources, manpower and cultural diversity, Bhandari said that we have the opportunity to build a self-sufficient economy through the sustainable and prudent use of these resources and means.

Emphasizing the need to increase domestic production by adopting a policy of import substitution to reduce the growing trade deficit, she said that attention should be paid to the development of industry and entrepreneurship in areas with comparative advantages such as agriculture-based industries, herbs and Ayurvedic products, small and medium industries, tourism, energy and information technology. He said that this would bring stability to the economy and provide employment opportunities to citizens.

Discussing the role that Birganj is playing in the economic development of the country, she opined that the systematic operation of Birganj-Pathalaiya Industrial Corridor, Simra Special Economic Zone and Sirsia Dry Port can make this region a strong center of industry and trade.

Talking about the agricultural potential of Bara district, she said that it has a leading role in fish farming, banana, vegetable, sugarcane cultivation and grain production. Similarly, she mentioned that Simraungadh, Gadhimai Temple and Parsa National Park can contribute to tourism promotion. He said that Bara-Parsa can be developed as a model district for the development of industry, agriculture and tourism through the advanced development of all these areas.

Stating that floods, inundation, land erosion and desertification have increased in Terai-Madhesh due to the uncontrolled exploitation of the Chure area, she explained that it is destroying fertile land and reducing the level of underground water. He said that it is seriously affecting agriculture, drinking water and people's life.

He was of the opinion that sugarcane farmers would not get the proper price of their products and due to delay in payment of dues, farmers' attachment to agriculture would decrease and agriculture-based industries would also be affected.

Mentioning that borrowers are in serious trouble due to the inhumane activities of meter loan moneylenders in Terai-Madhesh, she said that to solve this, the government should strictly regulate, make the complaint process easy, make the loan-transaction process transparent and provide subsidized loans to poor families.