Proposal for 50 percent female candidates from ward chairperson to parliamentary elections

KATHMANDU: A proposal of urgent public importance has been registered in the parliament to make a legal provision for all parties to nominate 50 per cent of women directly in the upcoming elections to the federal parliament, state assembly and local level. CPN-UML MP Binda Pandey’s proposal has been supported by Nepali Congress Whip Pushpa Bhusal, CPN-Maoist Center MP Anjana Bishunkhe and Janata Samajwadi Party’s Renuka Gurung.

CPN-UML MP Binda Pandey’s proposal has been supported by Nepali Congress Whip Pushpa Bhusal, CPN-Maoist Center MP Anjana Bishunkhe and Janata Samajwadi Party’s Renuka Gurung.

A law has been demanded that 50 per cent of women should be the candidates in the election of the ward chairperson, chief and deputy chief and chairperson and vice-chairperson. Article 38, Clause 6 of the Constitution provides for the right of women to participate in all state bodies on the basis of the principle of proportional inclusion.

Similarly, according to the law, only the parties with 33 per cent participation of women should be registered with the Election Commission. Similarly, the proposal states that women should be included in the cabinet in the state and federal governments accordingly.

It is also proposed to ensure 50 per cent participation of women in all sectors of government employment and also to provide additional facilities to the industries and businesses that employ more than 50 per cent of women in the private sector.

In addition, the proposal states that the parliament should order the government to ensure proportional participation of women in the commissions and other appointments formed by the government on an inclusive basis. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that 33 per cent of non-women parties should not be registered with the Election Commission.

The proposal, which was registered with the House of Representatives on Monday, matures in three days. Once the law minister agrees to discuss the proposal, the process will move forward in parliament.

MP Pandey said that they have put forward a joint proposal for gender justice on behalf of the members of the four parties in the federal parliamentary group. Pandey has already taken a proposal in Parliament and a proposal of urgent public importance for equal participation and justice of women.

She also raised the voice that the party should not be registered in the Election Commission unless 33 per cent of women are ensured in the ) Central Committee formed after the unification of UML and Maoists.