PM instructs to promote women-led industries

In a recent discussion with the Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ emphasized the need to give top priority to the promotion of industries run by women entrepreneurs. The Prime Minister urged the line ministry and stakeholders to focus on policies that prioritize women and women-led businesses to strengthen women’s rights and make them economically independent.

During the discussion on thematic issues concerning the Ministry, Prime Minister Prachanda acknowledged the sensitivity of the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens but highlighted that it has not received the priority it deserves. He called for the restructuring of the ministry to accord it the necessary attention in the future.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of implementing policies that ensure better income for women and make them independent. He expressed the need to translate women’s political rights into practice by incorporating functional policies and structural issues in the upcoming fiscal year’s policy and programme.

Prime Minister Prachanda commended the role played by women in Nepal’s political, economic, and social transformation. He advocated for community-based programs in collaboration with the private sector and community-based organizations to end violence against women and human trafficking. Additionally, he called for strategies and capacity development programs to enhance the execution skills of local judicial committee members.

The Prime Minister directed the incorporation of women’s contributions in the labor force survey and called for programs that ensure women’s economic and fiscal participation, supporting better economic growth and sustainable development.

In a move to further enhance social welfare, Prime Minister Prachanda instructed the immediate formulation of a new Social Welfare Council Act, scrapping the existing one. He emphasized that the Social Welfare Council should mobilize foreign assistance only in the national priority sectors.

Minister of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Surendraraj Acharya, highlighted the need for addressing problems in child correction homes through legal reforms. Chief Secretary Dr. Baikuntha Aryal called for the restructuring of the Social Welfare Council with a focus on transparency in grants and assistance from foreign donors.

Secretary at the Ministry, Sumanraj Aryal, suggested extending the services of the ministry to all 753 local levels. Meanwhile, Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, Arjun Prasad Pokharel, emphasized the necessity for legal and structural reforms in the Social Welfare Council, echoing the sentiment of Finance Secretary Dr. Krishnahari Pushkar, who cited the challenge of ensuring sufficient funds for projects and programs due to an imbalance between national needs and resource management.