Elected female MPs vow to move ahead in unison

The female parliamentarians elected to House of Representatives (HoR) have expressed their commitment to work in unison on the issues concerning women, society and country irrespective of their political affiliation.

At an interaction organized by Media Advocacy Group (MAG) and Sathi Sanstha here on Tuesday, the MPs pledged to work with their discretion and in unison on the issues of national interest without affecting the principles and ideals of their respective parties.

HoR member Bidya Bhattarai of CPN-UML said that she had enhanced advocacy on various social and women welfare related issues in the parliament in her pervious stint and committed to work in solidarity with the elected women leadership coming with experiences in different sectors in this stint.

Similarly, Indira Rana Magar elected to HoR from Rastriya Swatantra Party said that her foray into politics from her social service spanning 33 years was aimed at reforming the social sector.

Another woman parliamentarian Rekha Sharma of CPN (Maoist Centre) narrated how much they had to struggle to be elected to leadership even under the proportional representation system provisioned by the constitution of the country.

Referring to positive discrimination policy of the State, she underscored reservation and quota system for women, sexual minorities, Dalits, marginalized communities in political and other sectors for some more time in the country.

Likewise, Ranju Jha of Janta Samajbadi Party said that voice should be raised on economic empowerment of women at present citing difficulties facing women in making a stride in various fields owing to several socio-economic reasons.

Sathi Sanstha's former President Bandana Rana said that the 2021 survey conducted in 48 nations with women's participation in politics showed that 28.6 per cent women had reached the leadership position.

Against this backdrop, ensuring at least 33 per cent quota for women in parliament and female candidates contesting election under First-Past-The-Post system was an achievement in itself. "To achieve at least 33 per cent quota for women in all state organs and 50 percent quota for equality, there should be unity among the elected women leaders, " she viewed.

MAG founding president and media person Babita Basnet urged the elected women parliamentarians to work in unison on the common concerns of women and assured full social and media support for them as they continue to champion various causes.