KATHMANDU, March 1: Lawmakers on Sunday have urged the government to launch a special campaign to stand against ill practices in Nepali society such as witchcraft, social problems like dowry system, and criminal activities such as acid attack.

Participating in a discussion on a motion of urgent public importance, the lawmakers also demanded the government to take a stringent action those who are involved in such inhumane activities. 

Earlier, lawmaker Binda Pandey registered the motion of urgent public importance calling for a dedicated campaign to eliminate such ill practices and bring book the perpetrators. 

While registering the motion, Pandey stated that a total of 13 women lost their lives in the name of dowry although it has been termed as a criminal offence.  "Moreover, more than 300 women have become victim of abuse and violence which is an apparent mockery to the legal provision that no one shall be subjected to any kind of exploitation and violence," said she adding that the law also advocates legal action against the guilty and compensation to the victim. 

Taking an example of Province 2's campaign 'Save girls, educate girls (Beti Bachau, Beti Padhau)', she stressed the need for similar programs in other provinces so to ensure safety and security of all the girls. "Such a program should reach every the local level."

She also stressed the need to eliminating the dowry system and ensuring equal rights of women on the property through effective implementation of existing laws.

"Sale of acid should be strictly regulated and harsher punishment to those selling and distributing it is a must to check such incidents against women," she said adding that the attackers should be sentenced life imprisonment. At the same time, the state should be fully responsible for the survivor's treatment and ensuring compensation, she observed.

Reminding the popular aspiration of the government 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali', she argued that minimization of violence against women will help achieve this goal. 

Another lawmaker Nawaraj Silwal seconded the motion while expressing concern over the weak implementation of existing laws. "Formulating laws is not everything, however, its strict implementation and effective monitoring is crucial," he added. 

Taking action against the culprits rarely ensures justice, rather the state should be responsible to rehabilitate the victims, according to him. 

Lawmaker Sarita Giri demanded the government to launch a campaign focusing education for girls instead of dowry. She also highlighted the need for education insurance to the girls and free education to them so that they become self-reliant despite economic constraints. "Sale of acid is to be limited within licensed persons and record of its buyers should be kept up to date."

MP Krishna Bhakta Pokharel, on the other hand, opined that faulty social norms and values have posed a great challenge to the safety of women despite having laws. 

Similarly, Dila Sangraula expressed her serious concern over Nepali tendency of raising the issues of women violence around some particular days including International Women's Day. 

Parbata DC Chaudhary, however, opined that campaigning against those ill practices should be initiated a person by himself instead of making hue and cry.  

Stating that these malpractices can not be rooted out through some normal programs, MP Satya Pahadi said that a special strategy should be formulated for the same. 

 
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