KHOTANG, Aug 13:  Women and Dalit people's representatives in the district have complained that they face a larger exclusion in the course of the drafting of plans and budget allocations at the local level. 

In an interaction organized by the Center for Dalit Women Nepal at Diktel bazar of Khotang on Saturday, they alleged that the male representatives show high-handedness in formulating plans and allocating budget.

Woman ward member of Halesi Tuwachung Municipality-7, Diksha Rai, alleged that the ward chair who is a male never sought the 'say' of women members in plans-making and the budget allocations for the ward.

"The ward chair does not involve women and Dalit woman members in the formulation and selection of projects and the budget allocations. We are uncertain about the underlying reasons for this exclusion," she said.

Former ward member of Rawabensi Rural Municipality-4, Punya Kumari Magar, narrated that during her term at the office, she found male people's representatives at the local level were discriminatory against women members. 

Former ward chair of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality-5, Shashikala Rai, realized that women and Dalit women local representatives had to fight for their rights and seek an equitable contribution to each affair of the local bodies subsequently. "We are disassociated in our endeavors for achieving our rights. Combined efforts and actions are needed to achieve an equal status to male counterparts at the local levels."

She emphasized that "unity is strength and it is necessary to further strengthen the voices of women representatives at the local level against all sorts of discrimination and advance towards equity, inclusion and co-existence as envisaged by the Constitution."

Ten women and Dalit women members elected from various localities in the district were present at the program and they had the same voice over discriminations and exclusions they are facing in terms of their meaningful participation in each business of the local  governments.

The program was held under the 'She Leads' program of the Center. It aimed at assessing the gaps at the local level towards the advancement of gender equality and social inclusion in the political sphere, it is said.

On the occasion, CPN (Maoist Center) Koshi Province Committee leader Tanka Thapa, Janata Samajwadi Party youth leader Anjil Rai and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Khotang district member Shiva Kumar Bhattarai stressed the need for fully implementing the principle of proportional inclusion endorsed by the State. 

 
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