The Woes of Single Women and Senior Citizens

The National Population and Housing Census, 2021, has brought to light an important issue that remained carpeted for centuries: The rising number of single women and the difficult circumstances in which they live. According to the census, Nepal is home to well over 900,000 single women who constitute little over three percent of the country's total population. The census has only factored in widows, divorced, separated or never-married women aged 35 and above. The census has apparently left women below the age of 35 out of the study population – whatever may be the hypothesis. The finding is a window to the changing demography of Nepal. Ten years down the road since the census in question, the picture will not be the same. It goes without saying that single women face numerous challenges in their long singlehood lives. They face social stigma and economic hardships. Census data indicate that widows make up the majority of single women, accounting for about seven percent of the female population; and over the past two decades, the percentage of widows has doubled coupled with longer life expectancy and increased rates of separation and divorce. Divorce rates in the urban areas are comparatively higher than in the rural areas.

The average life expectancy of 40 years in the 1960's has increased to 70 plus in the last six decades. Nepal made huge strides in terms of raising the life expectancy at birth in the past two decades from 65.4 years (64.8 -- 66.1) in 2000 to 69.4 -- 70.6 years in 2021. An improvement by roughly five years in a matter of 20 years is no mean feat. Let us also factor in the fact that the population is aging by the day. Nepal has a young population with the current median age being 24 years. Half of the country's population is older than the median and the other half is younger. By the year 2050, the median age is expected to increase to 35 years and the life expectancy to 78-79. That means the country will be investing a huge chunk of money in the welfare of its old, retired and unproductive citizens, many of them single women already living amid harsh realities of societal neglect and policy gaps. This is where the paradox lies. Societal and policy responses, according to the study, have failed to address or respond to the unique needs of single women, adding to their vulnerability aggravated by prolonged periods of singlehood.

Nepal is one of the youngest federal republics in the world. Although the country has the necessary "structures" to drive social, political and economic agendas of the day in the three tiers of constitutionally autonomous governments, these structures do not seem to be working in tandem. Oftentimes, it looks like we as a nation-state do not have clearly defined goals or targets set. Things must change and now is the best time for that. The 2021 census can be taken as a baseline survey for the federal government to devise strategies to address the problems facing single women. The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens has a critical role to play here because, as its name and profile suggest, this ministry is responsible for formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating policies, plans and programs related to women, children, senior citizens and social welfare. While no single ministry is adequately competent or resourced to address all societal problems, it certainly can lead the process and rope in the other organs of the state in such monumental tasks.