Women PA members from Madhes complain of discrimination

KATHMANDU: Women members in the Madhesh Province Assembly (PA) have complained of subjugating to gender-based discriminations.

Airing their views during a concluding session of the three-day worship on gender sensitive parliamentary reporting today, they said the face discriminations both inside and outside the parliament.

Madhesh PA deputy speaker Babita Rout Ishar said, “It is obviously not easy for women to secure a due space and opportunities in politics. I myself reached my position after a long struggle,” she said, adding that despite an increase in women’s presence in quantity in politics, their quality representation is still awaited. She expected media support to address this gap.

PA member Kiran Shah stressed the need of raising a collective voice against the assault on their colleague Shahida Khatun.

PA member and NC whip Jibachha Yadav sought meaningful participations of women member in budget formulation and allocation procedures. She also urged all the stakeholders concerned to respond the voices of women politicians seriously.

“We are almost unheard by the government,” she said.

Another PA member Anita Kumari Shah accused the government of disregarding the voices of women lawmakers.

Khatun said the government has not yet responded the assault on her, despite being formally informed about it.