KATHMANDU, APRIL 8
The federal government has issued 'Women Entrepreneurship Facilitation Centre Operation Procedure, 2021' to make women economically prosperous and self-dependent through employment and self-employment.
It also envisages gender equality and women's empowerment as a major tool for development of the country.
As per the procedure, women entrepreneurship facilitation centre will be established and operated at local units to help women utilise their skills and creations by providing them necessary financial and technical support.
It has also determined the criteria for selection of local levels to establish and operate the centre.
"The local levels that have taken the initiative for marketisation of industrial activities and have the potential of necessary raw materials and entrepreneurship, have more women entrepreneurs and have access to banks and financial institutions will be prioritised for establishment and operation of the centre," the procedure says.
According to the procedure, the centre will be established as part of Women and Child Section of the office of the local level concerned.
The section chief will act as focal person of the centre.
The centre will provide information regarding ways to run entrepreneurship, besides facilitating women for testing, labelling, packaging, branding, pricing, certification and accreditation of the goods they produce.
The centre will also help women get concessional loans from banks and financial institutions to encourage entrepreneurship.
The procedure has also stipulated a provision of a nine-member committee led by deputy chief of the municipality/rural municipality for establishment and management of the centre at the local level.
The committee will conclude an agreement with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training or other organisations recognised by the Government of Nepal to conduct skills development training for women.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 9, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
