Organised by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)

26 September 2003

Domino effect of negligence to the backward communities, dalits and women has triggered a huge social and economic imbalance thereby contributing violence in the country.

Exclusion of women and the downtrodden from developmental activities is the prime reason behind a tardy economic growth and social unrest; said social scientists and Kathmandu centered women activities.

Progress is not feasible by keeping the majority of the population away from the mainstream of development. This only instigates violence and social unrest, they say.

Speaking at programme on "Gender Experience in Nepal Idea Exchange," organised by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) on September 26, experts, trade unionists and legal experts emphasized the need to ensure equal rights in real terms.

The programme organised with the objective of sharing ideas and experiences of various people working in the areas relating to gender development extensively discussed as how gender development programmes have been launched.

Representatives from various local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) explained their programmes on gender development. They also expressed their optimism for enhancing such programmes in association with the FES.

The development of a country is not possible without providing its citizens equal access to national resources, they said. How is the development possible by keeping more than 80 per cent people aside from the mainstream of the economic development? During the discussion, they also noted the reality of exploitation of women from women in various spheres of the society.

While women in far off districts like Jajarkot, Bajura or Ramechhap are deprived of basic health services and food, a handful of women in the urban areas taking benefits in the name of other women.

Economist and researcher Dr. Meena Acharya as a resource person said that the state should play a dynamic role in uplifting the status of women and downtrodden in the society.

Dr. Acharya while presenting her paper on " Gender Experience - Idea Exchange - Efforts at Promotion of Women in Nepal" said that attitudinal change was a must to bring about positive changes in the society although significant changes had taken place over the years.

The society is based on capital hence the attitude of women towards society will not change unless they have rights over the properties, said Dr. Acharya.

People are not development, but development should be for people, she said adding, " the deep rooted patriarchic feeling has affected Nepal's development paradigm.

She also said that the system of inheriting parental property has led to the disparity between man and women. She further said that the situation of women in backward community is more pathetic.

The role of media, trade unions and other social groups is vital in empowering women to a great extent. However, Dr. Acharya emphasised the need to increase the number of women in the areas where there is a need for women. Women understand the problem of women to a large extent, she said.

She categorically said that the development is not possible without bringing women and backward communities into the mainstream of development.

Dev Raj Dahal of the FES said that awareness among the people was important for economic and social development. Exclusion of a large number of people from developmental activities often triggers disparity, which ultimately causes social unrest and violence.

Development is possible only when everybody in the society has equal access to national resources. Speaking at the programme, Dahal said the gender inequality and economic and social discrimination are major causes of backwardness.

According to Dahal deconstruction of the structural inequality springing from weak voice and visibility and poor representation of women in knowledge, research and discourse equally requires their participation in political communication because it provides a space in which citizens, irrespective of gender distinctions can define equal status.

After Dr.Acharya presented her working paper, four people from different areas commented the paper and put forth their opinions about gender discrimination in the country.

Commenting the paper, Dr. Shanta Thapaliya of Legal Aid and Consultancy Center (LACC) said that the women in the rural areas are the victims of the discrimination. Dr. Acharya's paper has elucidated every aspect of discrimination from economic point of view. She has painted a vivid picture of those women who are bearing the brunt of poverty amid horrifying social discrimination.

By all accounts, Dr. Meena's paper has addressed the problems being faced by the Nepalese women. However, economic empowerment is not possible unless there is a legal provision to safeguard the rights of women.

Dr. Thapaliya who shared her experience about the agonies of women in rural areas like Jajarkot, far western region of the country. " A woman from backward community had a problem in delivering her a child. For three days she had been struggling to deliver, but nobody dared to touch her because of her so called low caste." I dared to take her to the local health post which was almost 4-5 kilometers above the heels."

This is just a case. There are many cases. Besides, a mother cannot do anything to in taking citizenship certificate to her own son or daughter, she said. It is a gross discrimination against woman. A mother is a proof who gives birth to her child, but she is deprived of her basic rights. Dr. Thapaliya also stressed the need to generate awareness to bring down the level of discrimination against women.
However, she said the state should also take initiatives to empower women and backward community. Non- governmental organization (NGOs) should be responsible in uplifting women and downtrodden and gender sensitization.

Referring to the 11th amendment of the Civil Code she said the amendment has at least made some initiatives to guarantee equality.
Dr. Krishna Bahadur Bhattachan, Central Department of Sociology/Anthropology - Tribhwuan University said that the history of exploitation is too old. It started with the invention of fire. There should be a conceptual clarity about the gender policy.

Dr. Bhattachan while speaking about Dr. Acharya's paper said that the paper had highlighted the issues relating to gender discrimination. But real efforts are needed to tackle the problem.

He also expressed apprehension over the failure of the implementation of the gender policy the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP). What can one expect from the government as long as the programmes on gender development gather dust at the National Planning Commission (NPC).

Changes in policy alone do nothing. The policy should be put into action. However, some positive changes have taken place in our own society, said Dr. Bhattachan. Citing examples of Chepangs who have been residing in Makawanpur have no citizenship for they have no land. Citizenship and land are interrelated. One has to have citizenship certificate to own land and vice versa.

He said that the problems being faced by backward community and women should be given priority.

Dev Raj Dahal, who moderated the programme, underlined the need for comparative study. Women and backward community who are in vulnerable position should be uplifted.

Another commentator Narendra Upadhyay, Chief Editor of The Telegraph Weekly said that the Nepalese media has been contributing to generate awareness in the society. The chief cause of today's social unrest and violence is nothing but it emerged from massive economic and social disparity.

The media has played a significant role in gender sensitisation. Besides, various non-governmental organizations like Sancharika Samuha are doing a tremendous job in uplifting backward community and women.

Regarding Dr. Acharya's remarks about media's role for encouraging in commercialization women, he said that the media could not be blamed. It is the choice of women whether to be commercialised or not. Media does not force anybody to commercialize.

On behalf of the Nepalese Trade Unions, general secretary of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) Bishnu Rimal said that women are occupying a big space in the country's labour market.

The contributions in uplifting the trade union movement cannot be overlooked, he said.

Dr. Meena's paper has vividly described the position of women and backward community, he reiterated. However, women have been given responsibility on the basis of their personal capacity.

Trade unions are gradually encouraging women to handle responsible position. Trade unions are class organizations, but they are not directly involved with any political party and any political ideology too. Women are given priority at different levels in trade unions such as national level, central level and local level.

There are two extremes. On the one hand women are deprived of opportunities. They are always overshadowed from the mainstream of development. On the other hand women themselves prefer to be treated as ornaments.

But the reality is that the working group, backward community and specially women of backward community are the victims of gross negligence of the state and the society, said Rimal.

Dr. Shanta Thapaliya while responding to Rimal's views said that argued that women's participation in trade unions is still insignificant.

Dr. Meena Acharya also pointed out the need for attitudinal changes for wider participation of women. Our approach should be changed, she said.

No one can think of strategic needs unless the basic needs are fulfilled. On top of that structural issues have to be tackled. She pointed out the need for necessary law and Acts for structural changes in the society.

Participants later discussed the contextualization of FES Tool Book and how partners of FES have planed to integrate Gender concept in their activities.

In the floor discussion Khila Nath Dahal, general secretary of Democratic Confederation of Nepalese Trade Unions (DECONT) flatly denied the 'male hegemony' in trade unions.

He also clarified that the DECONT does not have any direct affiliation with any political party. Women cannot use the property even if they are legal owner of the property. He also spoke about the minimum wage. Many people both men and women are not getting the minimum wage.

However, Shanta Thapaliya, clarifying Dahal's remarks about minimum wage, said that the Supreme Court had recently issued an order to provide the minimum wage. The minimum wage has been increased to Rs 72/- from Rs 60/-.

Sudha Dahal, a member of the Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) said that her trade union is launching massive awareness campaign in different parts of the country.

Man Bahadur Biswokarma, a social activist said that Dr. Meena's paper was insufficient in addressing the problem of dalits and women of backward community in the far off villages and Terai.

The development is not possible by setting a huge number of people (dalits and women of backward community) aside. Progress of a handful of women in the urban areas cannot be termed progress.

In fact, a handful of women in capital and core areas are taking benefits at the cost of other women, he said. Ideological and attitudinal changes are necessary to bring out a real change, he added.

Dalits constitute more than 25 per cent of the total population and out of 25, 12 per cent are women. The spirit of Beijing Conference has been grossly ignored, he said. He also flayed all political parties for not involving dalits in the process of democratic exercise.

He questioned as how many dalit women are involved in the economic development and social mobilization process? In fact so-called women activists are doing politics on dalit and downtrodden women.

Hari Bansh Jha noted that the plights women in Terai has not been given due attention. The condition of dalits (considered as socially untouchable) among Madheshi (Terai people) dalits is more vulnerable. The paper should have focused on Madhesi dalits too, Jha said.

Dr. Meena Acharya admitted that the paper should have focused on the issues of women in Terai as well. She said that she would involve such issues in her paper. Dr. Shanta Thapaliya also demanded Dr. Meena Achayra to clarify the issues relating to women and dalits.

Dr. Krishna Bhattachan said that all dalits couldn't be generalized. The conditions of some dalits within the dalit are more susceptible. The gender war has not yet taken place. The war of Naalapani cannot be termed gender war, he said. Dr. Bhattachan underlined the need for gender programmes.

Man Bahadur Biswokarma emphasised the need for fair approach while launching programmes for dalits and women of backward communities. He said that the uplift of dalits and women is a must.

Dr. Bhattachan argued about the statistics of dalits.

Samira Paudel of the FES urged all to make concerted efforts to streamline the gender issue.

Around 25 people from different organisations were participating in the workshop.