KATHMANDU, JUNE 27

Nepali Congress leaders have laid emphasis on the need to increase women's participation from the ward level to the central level in the NC.

The NC leaders said this at a virtual interaction programme on 'Women and Youth Leadership in the 14th General Convention: Possibilities and Challenge' organised by Democratic Awareness Campaign today.

On the occasion, NC central committee member Sujata Koirala said women's participation should be increased from the ward to central level in the NC. 'Even though women are capable, there is no support system for women's leadership in the party,' she said, adding that 'Women's participation has been increasing at the local level slowly and gradually.'

Similarly, another NC central committee member Dr Shekhar Koirala said the party statute had some weaknesses regarding the provision of offering the position of party's office-bearers to women.

'Youth should be elected as NC's office-bearers in the coming general convention,' he said. Likewise, Gagan Kumar Thapa said the party had been facing this issue as it failed to run the party as per the statute. 'There should be rule of law and statute in the party, not the rule of individuals and the party should be made inclusive from the lower level,' he added.

Citing that not getting opportunities to lead the party by Nepal Women Association is a matter of concern, Sita Gurung expressed the view that the situation giving rise to the need to fight for women's rights continued to persist in the party. Similarly, Sarita Prasain said the party would be strong only through the joint participation of new and old active members.

General Secretary of Nepal Women Association Dhana Khatiwada, NC Panchthar President Narendra Kreung, NC Taplejung President Leela Bokhim, among others, stressed the need to increase women's participation in NC's working committee.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 28 2021, of The Himalayan Times.