Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu:

Durga Shrestha, minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, was appointed as chairperson of the Social Welfare Council on February 7. Dr Prabha Basnet, member secretary of the Council, welcomed her and said that it was a matter of honour and pride for the council to have her as chairperson.

“It gives us immense happiness to see that women of our country are playing an indispensable role in building the nation. The honourable chairperson is a renowned social worker and we believe that her contribution towards the betterment of women and children will be laudable,” she said. The minister also honoured the founder chairperson of the council, the Late queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah by garlanding her statue. The staff and other authorities were introduced to her thereafter.

Dr Basnet then read out the basic policies of the council and stated that they would now follow a one-window policy and work towards qualitative rather than quantitative goals.

“Long terms goals will be given more priority, since the council has been established on its own legislation,” she said.

The Council will also be open to interaction with other ministries like education and labour.

“Women will be highlighted in our organisation, a proof of which is the fact that majority of the higher posts here are occupied by women,” said Dr Basnet.

Pushpa Shrestha, the first ever woman to be part of the Planning Commission in its history of 50 years, said

that a 20 per cent reservation for women in government and other jobs is the need of the hour.

Dr Basnet applauded the king’s decision of dissolving the government.

Even the newly appointed chairperson praised the king’s decision and said that it was an inevitable step. She gave guidelines to the council for continuing to give good service and said that one should follow a constructive approach.

Dr Basnet hopes that the fact the ministry is led by a woman would add new dimensions to the future prospects of women.