Kathmandu, February 11:

The National Indigenous Nationalities Women Federation (NINWF) today demanded at least 47 seats in the upcoming constituent assembly for them.

“Even if we consider 33 per cent reservation for women, indigenous nationalities women deserve at least 47 seats in the constituent assembly,” said Stella Tamang, advisor of the NINWF while addressing a press conference today.

Tamang also criticised the parties for nominating political leaders in the seats allocated for the members of the civil society in the legislative parliament. “We won’t accept the representation of women in the name of political parties. They should be selected as indigenous nationalities women,” she said, adding that the established women leaders including Shashi Shrestha and Chitra Lekha Yadav should not occupy the 33 per cent seats reserved for the women.

General secretary of the federation Soma Rai said higher class and higher caste women are benefited from the programmes of various organisations. “Women from all the ethnic groups including the ones from marginalised groups should also get a chance to have their say at the policy level,” she said.

Rai said the federation is preparing to organise a peaceful movement soon. The protest programmes include rally, sit-in and publicising the issues of indigenous nationalities women and interactions among others. She said the indigenous women are suffering from triple discrimination — firstly being women, secondly being indigenous nationalities and thirdly being indigenous nationalities women. Rai claimed that the government has never included indigenous women in formulating programmes and plans for women.