KATHMANDU, AUGUST 9

Nepal Women Association, the women's wing of the Nepali Congress, is marking its 75th establishment day today throughout the country with various programmes.

The organisation was formed by Mangaladevi Singh, spouse of one of the major leaders of the NC, Ganeshman Singh, on this day in 1947 to ensure women's meaningful participation in politics in Nepal.

A group of women had discreetly convened at the house of Chiniyalal Shrestha at Bhedasingh in Kathmandu on this day 75 years ago and formed an 11-member ad-hoc committee chaired by Mangaladevi.

The day is considered a 'milestone' for women's foray into politics in the country for the NWA was formed as a political organisation to establish women's rights.

On this day, various NWA's female leaders acknowledged the role of 'politically aware' women in NWA in the past, who significantly contributed to various political movements of the country in 1950, 1979, 1989, and 2006.

Former deputy prime minister and NC leader Sujata Koirala noted that Nepali women have played an important role in establishing democracy in the country.

She viewed that those women politicians should be provided 'tickets' to contest in the upcoming elections on the basis of their contribution to national politics.

Outgoing president of NWA and Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens Uma Regmi argued that the 33 per cent women's participation in the Parliament and provincial assembly was guaranteed due to women's movement and their struggle for meaningful participation in the legislative and executive bodies.

She further said the provision of women's mandatory appointment to either mayoral or deputy post, chairperson or vice-chairperson post, president or vice-president post and speaker was ensured due to women's movements.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 10, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.