Chief Minister of Koshi Province Kedar Karki has said his government has given due importance to the overall development of women.

Addressing an event titled “Nirbhik Nari” organised in Biratnagar on Wednesday, Karki said the Koshi provincial government has launched initiatives to empower women in the province. “We are committed to empowering women as leaders and entrepreneurs. The provincial government is open to discussing and implementing necessary plans and policies to uplift the status of women,” said the chief minister, urging women to fight for their rights.

He expressed his concerns regarding female literacy in the Koshi Province.

“Female population outnumbers male population in Koshi. But the female literacy rate lags behind the male literacy by around 16 percent” said Karki who attended the function as chief guest. He said the provincial government would allocate the necessary budget for women’s empowerment.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Indira Ranamagar also addressed the function. She said people have yet to feel the change although the country has adopted a federal ruling system for a long time. The deputy speaker accused the federal government of being hesitant to delegate power and authority to provincial governments.

“The provinces’ autonomy is being restricted by the central government, which should not be the case. The federal system of governance will be effective only when the provincial governments are given their rights and authorities,” she asserted.

Rana said the women should be in leadership roles to control corruption and steer the country in the right direction.

The interaction titled “Nirbhik Nari” was organised for the first time in Koshi Province by Nari magazine, a sister publication of The Kathmandu Post.

Deputy Speaker Ranamagar, judge of High Court Biratnagar Shridhara Kumari Pudasaini, entrepreneur Kriti Shrestha and Dalit rights activist Sabitra Pariyar participated in the first session entitled “Competent Women: Strong Leadership”. The session was moderated by Laxmi Bhandari, a journalist with the Nari magazine.

In the second session titled “Employment in Home Country: Concern of Youths,” youth entrepreneurs Gaurav Dugar and Raktim Pyakurel, Deputy Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan City Shilpa Karki, Associate Professor Bandana Jain and Registrar of Manamohan Polytechnic University Dilnath Phuyal participated in the panel discussion.

Two other sessions titled “Healthy Woman: Healthy Country” and “Microfinance Made Entrepreneurs, But Loan Defaults Created Challenges” were also organised where several dignified personalities attended the discussions.