Meaningful representation

The Himalayan Times

15 February 2018

Meaningful representation

The country is now on the course of constitution implementation following the successful completion of three tiers of elections. Local level governments have started their functions despite shortages of human resources and adequate infrastructure for the last nine months. Provincial governments are in the process of formation and might take full shape within a week. Likewise, the new federal government likely to be headed by K.P.Oli at the central seems to take its chair this week. If everything goes well, the provincial and federal governments will start functioning from third week of February.

If we closely look at the proportion of women representatives in the leadership positions in all the three tiers of federal structure, there does not seem to be a sign of satisfaction. Of the total 35,041 representatives for 753 local units, 14,331 (40.9%) women representatives were elected at the local level elections. However, only two percent of them were elected for mayoral and chair posts. Another discouraging scenario highlighting the role and intention of major political parties, mostly dominated by male leaders, who never get tired of talking about social inclusion, was seen while appointing the provincial governors.

Likewise, none of the chief ministers for the seven provincial governments is a woman. In the seven provincial elections of 330 representatives, only 18 women (4.84 %) were elected under the FPtP system. Similarly, of the 165 representatives, only 6 women representatives (3.63 %) were elected in the House of Representatives under the FPtP system, where as the constitution calls for 33 per cent.  The major political parties will make up this shortfall of women representations through the PR system for the sake of constitutional provision. However, as opined by THT in its editorial column “A man’s world” (THT, February 13, Page 8), the political parties of Nepal, which are largely male-dominated and are yet to internalise the principle of inclusion, should pave the way for women to hold leadership positions in the days to come.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj