Nepal: Women CA members feel pride

June 8, 2008 – (The Rising Nepal) The women Constituent Assembly members felt great pride while participating in the meeting of the Constituent Assembly for the first time.

Not only the first time women CA members, even the women who had been already elected Members of Parliament in the past felt pride in attending the meeting of the Constituent Assembly. At the same time they felt that their responsibilities have increased.

CA member representing the Nepali Congress, Uma Adhikari said it is a matter of pride that women in large number are sharing the same forum to raise voice for the rights and interests of women. She added that never in the history of the country so many women had been represented in the Parliament. "I felt both opportunity and challenges while entered the Assembly chamber," she said.

The women CA members have two main concerns at this juncture – how to take the country forward and how to empower the women.

CA member Dama Sharma who was elected to the Constituent Assembly from a Dang constituency on behalf the CPN (Maoist) said she felt immense pride and a sense of responsibility while participating in the Constituent Assembly meeting.

"Women lag behind in many sectors since ages and it is our responsibility to empower them," she stressed.

Renu Yadav of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum said women will fight against the social structure and not against the males in the Constituent Assembly.

Basanti Jha of the Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party stressed unity among all the women CA members for fighting for the rights and interests of their lot.

Prativa Rana of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party said women can also equally contribute to nation building and its progress and development.
Women CA members who comprise 33 per cent of the Constituent Assembly are participating in the constitution making process.

From:http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/detail.php?article_id=1587&cat_id=8