Kathmandu, January 25:

The government, with cooperation from four non-governmental organisations, today launched a “special programme” to encourage women to take up leadership roles in the CA elections in three districts.

The Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare’s (MoWCSW) programme titled “Making Politics Working With Women” aims to educate women and develop their leadership qualities in three districts — Kapilvastu, Kaski and Kathmandu. The programme will intervene at various levels in the community and make the stakeholders of the election and the community gender sensitive. “A committee will be set up in each district comprising members of political parties and local leaders and they will undergo a Trainers of Training (ToT) training on increasing women’s participation in the upcoming election,” said a MoWCSW official.

“Since the programme aims to make women capable, leadership development training will be given to encourage the number of candidates and women voters,” said RituRaj Bhandari, under secretary at MoWCSW. Watch groups will be formed so that the groups can work closely with women and address their need. This would ensure that women are not excluded from the entire process, added Bhandari.

UNIFEM, Samanta, Pro Public and Didi Bahini have joined hands with government for this programme.