Empowerment

The Himalayan Times

1 December 2016

Empowerment

It is said that educating a mother is to educate the whole family which is applicable to any society, be it in Asian countries or western countries. However, this saying is more relevant to our society where the women literacy rate is comparatively lower than men literacy rate. Making a woman literate is ultimately to empower her for facing the challenges in her life. The government has done some remarkable job in this area albeit it has a long way to go “Govt committed to empowering women, says DPM Nidhi” (THT, 29 Nov.Page 2). Free education to girl up-to school leaving certificate level, 33 % of women representatives in the legislative parliament and at-least one women leader in each ward of a VDC are some of the provisions the government has made to empower women. The new constitution has also ensured women rights all the levels.

While I contemplate my past 25 years of working in bilateral development projects, I feel proud to share my experiences in the field of community empowerment in general and women members in particular. Several health related activities were carried out by the women members after they were provided with simple management training in order to address their common health problems. Lives of many innocent children and old people could be saved by the women group members. Water borne diseases were lessened from their communities by implementing personal hygiene and sanitation programme. Trained women group members were able to chase away bad practices from their communities.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj.