Interviews
1 MIN READ
Dalit women have to overcome many obstacles in order to lead. The story of Nanumaya Gandarva, an elected Dalit representative from Rambha Rural Municipality, Palpa.
The Local Election Act (LEA), 2017, has made provisions for every ward in both urban and rural municipalities to reserve two seats for women, one of which must be held by a Dalit woman. This translates into a total of 13,486 such posts for women, with 6,743 reserved exclusively for Dalit women. The election of Dalit women into leadership roles ushers a new era of increased participation of women, especially from marginalised communities, in the governance structure of the newly federalised nation.
Nanumaya Gandarva is one such elected Dalit representative who holds an executive position in Rambha Rural Municipality in Palpa. When she was first elected, Nanumaya found it to be a surreal experience. She had never aspired to become a political figure, but the Election Act gave her the opportunity to run, and now, she is a ward member increasingly involved in decisions that affect her municipality.
While the election of Dalit women in leadership role is something to be lauded, they still face social prejudices. Most of all, there seems to be general skepticism in women like Nanumaya’s ability to competently contribute in their elected roles. Patriarchal prejudices run just as deep, and there are fears aplenty that women who step out of their homes to work in leadership positions will become arrogant or get out of control.
In all this, Nanumaya gets unconditional support from her husband, who is aware of systemic injustices towards Dalits and women, and encourages her to stand up for herself as she faces both.
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Nisha Rai Rai has a decade-long experience working as a print, online, and radio reporter in Nepali and international media.
Perspectives
5 min read
By acting consistently in favor of democracy and the rule of law, Nepal’s Supreme Court has fulfilled its function of defining the limits of acceptable political action and the consequences of legal subterfuge.
Perspectives
Interviews
Longreads
10 min read
An afternoon with writer-activist CK Raut during his trial at the Special Court
Longreads
Features
14 min read
Fifteen years since the 10-year conflict ended, there is no justice and little peace for victims of rape and sexual violence.
COVID19
News
3 min read
A daily summary of Covid19-related developments that matter
COVID19
Perspectives
6 min read
In South Asia, social distancing directs violence, exclusion and bigotry upon the already marginalised
Books
9 min read
Many of the poems in Itisha Giri’s new collection are dedicated to women, talk about women, and diagnose how women occupy the pages but have not been allowed to occupy similar spaces in society.
Features
8 min read
Transgender individuals continue to face abuse at the hands of the Nepal Police
Photo Essays
4 min read
When the pandemic forced countries to go into lockdown, closing international borders, Nepali migrant workers in Saudi Arabia were forced into dire living conditions. This was their plea.