PM instructs to promote women-led industries

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has instructed the line ministry and stakeholders to give top priority to the promotion of industries run by women entrepreneurs.

During a discussion with the Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, secretary and other officials on thematic issues concerning the Ministry, the PM urged the officials to give priority to the issues relating to women.

"The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens is highly sensitive ministry. But we have not given priority to the level it demands. So, its restructuring is needed to accord priority to this (ministry) in the future," the PM mentioned.

On the occasion, PM Prachanda said the women rights could be strengthened by ensuring better income and making women independent. "For this, implement the policies that prioritize women and women-led industries and business," the PM said.

In his remarks, the PM shared his observation about role played by women in Nepal's political, economic and social transformation.

Likewise, the PM asked the ministry to fix and incorporate functional policies and structural issues in the upcoming fiscal year's policy and programme to translate women's political rights into practice.

PM Prachanda opined that community-based programmes should be implemented to end all kinds of violence against women and human trafficking, in partnership with the private sector and community-based organizations. He also called for preparing strategy along with the capacity development programmes to enhance work execution skills of local judicial committee members.

Furthermore, the PM directed to make needed provisions to honour the women by also incorporating their contributions in the labour force survey.

The PM called for programmes that ensure women's economic and fiscal participation by supporting better economic growth and sustainable development.

On the occasion, PM Prachanda directed to immediately begin the process for formulation of new Act of the Social Welfare Council by scrapping existing Act and to make provisions for the SWC to mobilize foreign assistance only in the national priority sectors.

Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens Surendraraj Acharya pointed out the need for addressing the problems in the child correction home by reforming the legal provisions that stand as barriers to it.

Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal emphasized on restructuring of the Social Welfare Council, while calling for transparency in the grants and assistance received from foreign donors.

Secretary at the ministry, Sumanraj Aryal, suggested that the services of the ministry should be extended to all 753 local levels. The Ministry is giving focus on the regulation and operation of the Social Welfare Council, monitoring and evaluation of NGOs as well as on ensuring the justice and rights of women, children and senior citizens.

Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, Arjun Prasad Pokharel, emphasized that the Social Welfare Council should be reformed as per the need of time and pointed out that legal and structural reforms are necessary for it.

Similarly, Finance Secretary Dr Krishnahari Pushkar said it has not been possible to ensure sufficient funds for some of projects and programs due to imbalance between national needs and resource management.