Women’s Involvement — It works!
DCA- supported women groups in the far west of Nepal are helping women to be aware of their rights for the first time and to spread social harmony in the communities.
By David Wallace Smith, Country Director
DCA Nepal & Bangladesh
REFLECTION FROM THE FIELD
In early September 2018, my colleagues and I did a monitoring visit to some of our local partners’ work with empowering women in the Far West of Nepal.
We were greeted with fanfare and joy in the women’s’ groups we met. Throughout the Terai zone (southern plains) of Nepal, women face problems related to domestic violence, discrimination, and lack of basic services for themselves and their families.
They also have a low sense of self- worth and are unaware of their rights. Women are not only in charge of taking care of their household but also must help out in the fields. Adult males migrate to India and the Gulf countries for work, leaving the women in charge of the family, household, and their livelihoods. They do, well — everything!
David Smith and Cecilie Bjørnskov-Johansen with Sushila Bohora and Manuna in Kailari
During their menstrual period when they are considered to be ‘impure’, they have had to submit to Chaupadi practice– staying in a cowshed or small structure outside the house, in mostly unhygienic conditions, which affect their physical and psychological health. There have been some cases of women dying because of snake bites too.
It has only been a year since these women’s groups were formed. In that short time, the women’s’ groups have made enormous progress in dealing with their communities’ challenges and problems. I was impressed by what they explained to us.
Raj Devi Sunuwar, 27, recipient of Give a Chicken 2018 in Gauriganga Municipality of Kailali district
Making Good Impacts
Sushila Bohora, the vice-chair of Namuna Women’s group in Kailari Western Nepal, is an outspoken and dynamic person. In our group meeting she explained how their group had achieved zero discrimination in their mixed community of Dalits (or ‘untouchables’), Chhetris, and Janajati castes within a year by going from house to house and family to family to sensitize everyone that they were all members of the same community.
Dalits can now share food with their neighbours from the other castes, something they could not do before, because they were considered ‘untouchables’.
Child marriage has decreased hugely.
While arranged marriage still exists, the group was instrumental in convincing their villagers that marriages should only happen when the girl and boy reached 20 or older as per Nepal’s law.
During my conversation with the women group, we were surprised to find out that many of the women have yet to receive their citizenship.
Laxmi Sunar, a member of the women group informed us that she had just gotten her citizenship 2 months before. Thanks to the group, she discovered that it was her right to be a citizen. She also became aware of her right to vote and to apply for social protection or agricultural credit. So — she did it!
Laxmi’s and Sushila’s lives are changing due to this realization. They now feels that they are important and that their voices matter. This resonates with all of the group members.
The women’s’ group have also convinced the mayor of their municipality to declare it a ‘discrimination-free’ zone so that their good work will include everyone in the area.
This is just as small example of the marvellous achievements of these women in their communities. It makes me proud to have had a very small part in supporting this process of rapid positive social change.
