Women have made a plan to make Thalara Rural Municipality free from discrimination and inequity within five years in Bajhang district.

Elected women representatives of the rural municipality, women volunteers and other women involved in various organisations have made the plan to erase discrimination from the society.

A group of 45 women has made the plan to prohibit discrimination. They are against gender inequality, domestic violence, social evils and other deeply rooted mal practices.

Executive member Rekha Khadka said they have planned various programmes to empower women economically, prosperous and easy access to various public services to women.

Harkudevi Sayar, a woman member of the rural municipality, said they have made the plan themselves this time. “Though the budget was allocated to promote gender equality in the past, the target group could not be benefited,” she said.

“Chhaupadi, an ancient Hindu practice that banishes women from the home during menstruation and after childbirth, is still in practice. The rate of violence against women has not reduced here,” said Sayar.

Another women leader Sarita Deuda said the budget allocated to promote gender equality was used in other development activities. “The concerned authority used that budget in constructing school buildings and opening road tracks. Now, we have planned to use that budget in the economic empowerment of women,” said Deuda.

Vice-chairperson Gangudevi Khadayat said the rural municipal office is going to erase discrimination and implement programmes to make women independent in the society. “We have made a clear design for the implementation of the programmes,” said Khadayat.

Thalara Rural Municipality Chairman Bhuwaneshwor Upadhayay said the rural municipal office is ready to work for the economic empowerment of women. “We will also use the budget to erase discrimination from the society,” said Upadhayay.

Women have planned to raise awareness against domestic violence, Chhaupadi and other social evils. The rural municipal office also has planned to launch programmes to enhance skills and capacity of women and other facilities, said Upadhayay.