BRAVO WOMEN

The Himalayan Times

25 January 2010

Women’s group of Haleshi VDC of Khotang district deserves appreciation for showing their courage to lock up government offices in protest against the deaf ears turned towards their demand of budget allocation for women in line with the government directives, “Haleshi women lock up govt offices in protest” (THT, Jan 20). Likewise, recent decision made by Annapurna Mothers’ Group of Baidam of Pokhara to retaliate any kinds of bandh in their areas, as portrayed in the photo bearing the caption “Participants at a programme organized by Annapurna Mothers’ Group at Baidam in Pokhara on Monday (THT, Jan19), was another example of women’s courage for self empowerment.

Unless women cohesively acting as the group show such courage to express their dissatisfactions over the issues and concerns related to their rights and privileges, they would continue to be suppressed in a patriarchal society. Both these cases could be good examples for other women groups to exert positive pressure on the government, political parties and other concerned authorities for addressing their legitimate rights, issues and concerns.

I still have a fresh memory, while working in a health project in the remote villages of Dolakha and Ramechhap districts. Share with about hundreds of women groups working together we were able to carry out several social and development related activities. It seems that the NGOs and INGOs involved in women empowerment program need to revise their program accordingly in the changed context?

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj, Kathmandu