Challenges of NWC and NDC

Preparing Bill on the role of NWC challenge: Chairman Himalayan News ServiceKathmandu, April 11Experts today discussed the importance and challenges of the recently formed National Women’s Commission (NWC) and National Dalit Commission (NDC). “NWC is an autonomous body supported by the ministry for women, children and social welfare. Our challenge is to prepare a bill on the role of NWC, and to work on developing policies and strategies to implement our programmes,” said Dr Durga Pokharel, chairman of NWC at a programme organised by the Human Rights Organisation of Nepal (HURON).Dr Pokharel pointed out that NWC is planning to create a data bank to store information on women with different skills. Based on that knowledge, the members of the commission can advise and allocate work to those women.Meanwhile, referring to the clarification sought by Nepali Congress to the ministers regarding speaking against the party or senior leaders, Rajendra Kharel, minister for women, children and social welfare said “When we suggested to senior politicians that they should retire from politics, to advise the up and coming younger leaders, we have either been asked to submit clarification letters or we are in the process if being expelled from the party,” he said. Padam Singh Bishwakarma, chairman of NDC lamented that one fourth of the country’s population, who belong to disadvantaged groups are economically, politically, religiously and socially deprived. “We are committed to putting our efforts into achieving better circumstances for backward communities, but the government should help us create the necessary infrastructure,” said Bishwakarma. He added that NDC is going to voice its opinion at policy level and during implementation programmes, as well as working jointly with HURON. “We are committed to supporting NWC and NDC but the government has to create infrastructure,” opined Sudip Pathak, chairman of HURON.