Political Status of Women Interai Community (A Case Study of Rajbiraj Municipalityof SaptariDistrict)

Abstract

It is well known fact that until and unless we will able to womenparticipation in politics and decision making level it will be vain, womenrepresentation in political activities is positive for the equal andproportional development . To include the women in decision making tobenefit sharing is real need of today. This study ‘Political Status of Women in Terai Community’identified the main hindrances of women participation in politics and todraw some suggestive measures for active participation of women inpolitics. This study was an attempt to draw a picture of womenparticipation in politics. This study clearly enfolds that womenrepresentation in local politics especially in municipality level hasincreased . However their role in municipality level program seemsineffective. They are contrived into household activities that haveprevented women from participation in meeting and sharing. The studyreveals that 62.50 percent candidates are literate and rest are illiterateamong them 25 percent representatives are below the secondary level. Itclearly indicates their consciousness is not so high. So, they can not raisetheir voice actively as higher educated person. On the other side, thisstudy shows that those women who represents in municipality level arenot politically active. Only 12.50 percent representatives participateforcefully. The major cause of lower participation of women in politics insocial obstacles and male domination. Among all representative 81.25percent agree that male domination and social obstacles are majorhindrances in political activities. Women spend large amount of time inagriculture and other domestics work and get less or no time formunicipal council is totally neglected while designed program in thewhole project cycle. They even do not known how the program aredesigned and budget is allocated. They are indifferent to design programto the implementation level. So, education program, women employment, equitableparticipation in all respect from all sides of the society can enhance theirbetter quality leadership. This study clearly shows that in order to makethe women political mainstream of the nation, they need to be encouragedat different levels first of all , women need to be encouraged in theirfamilies by their husbands, sons and daughters to participate in politicalactivities. They also need to be exposed to the income generationactivities to make them self dependent . They need to be given educationso that they become politically consciousness and feel their responsibilityas well.