Nepalese society is a patriarchal society. Women are discriminated in many ways. It starts from birth itself .If a baby girl is born, both the mother and child become victims of neglect. They are deprived of better education, food and other facilities. Even our religious belief defines a baby girl as Goddess Lakshmi. If indeed, a girl child is like Lakshmi where is equity for her? Moreover, Nepali women have not got their own identity. There is social discrimination against women whose roles are confined to domestic chores and reproduction to carry forward the family genealogy.

People hold a view that women are not capable as men in terms of ability and intelligence .This view has been proven wrong . We now have women who are working in media, journalism, teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, business entrepreneurs, politics and the army. History also reveals the fact that women have excelled over years. Great personalities such as Bhrikuti and Rajendra Lakshmi have made important contributions to our nation. What better example can it be now that our current president is a woman?

Our country is changing politically, economically and socially at a rapid pace. In comparison to the past, one can say that the conditions for women have improved. Although the change includes only a small percentage of women, particularly in city and town areas, it is definitely an encouraging sign that things are changing for the better for women. Unless women are not empowered with access to education and opportunities, any effort at development will not be meaningful and sustainable.

According to United Nations (1995), Women empowerment has been defined to encompass women having a sense of self -worth, access to opportunities and resources, choice and the ability to exercise them, control over their own lives and influence over the direction of social change.

Education is the key to empowerment. So women must be educated. In most of the highly developed and sophisticated societies educating women is equally important as for men. A nation that invests in women’s employment, health and education has a better outcome. Their children will be healthier and better educated.

Summing up, educating and empowering women are ensuring their bright future. Women need the opportunity to prove their worth. And to create that opening for them the patriarchal mindset has to change to see women not as inferiors but as individuals with the potential to change the world.