Increase investment in women empowerment: Nepal

Kathmandu, Jan. 24: Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Tuesday said that the state should increase investment in empowering the women.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Women and Children Centre at Changunarayan, Nepal said, "Social development begins with the women and their empowerment. Therefore, programmes should be implemented in order to make them literate, productive, capable and entrepreneur."

He urged the community to utilise the centre for the production of various goods and services and other social activities.

Women make sanitary pads in the centre.

He appreciated the efforts of Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) Japan and its Nepal Country Office for their contribution to renovating the building and launching various income generating trainings and activities.

According to Shizuyo Sato, executive director of ICA Japan, the organization provided Rs. 13.5 million for the renovation of the building, conducting training, procuring machines and other activities.

She informed that the ICA Japan was going to launch another support programme in Sindhupalchowk.

"In Sindhupalchowk, we will support the quake-affected communities with training on agriculture, dairy and animal husbandry as well as juice and Nepali hug plum candy products," she said.

The programme is scheduled to begin in June this year.

She said that the programme would be replicated in Nuwakot district as well.

The project entitled the 'Renovation of learning centre for vulnerable victim of the disaster in Changunarayan, Bhaktapur,' has child club and senior citizen's club for utilising centre for their future growth.

"The project has learning centre renovation, community meeting for rehabilitation, psychosocial support activities for women, children and elderly citizen to cope with disasters and income generating activities for women," said  Prof. Dr. Tatwa P. Timsina, chairman of ICA Nepal.

on," he said.

The term of insurance for Nepalese workers in India will be for one year in general. If the term of employment is fixed, the insurance coverage can be obtained for the specified period.

The Prime Minister said that a three months' grace period would be provided in the insurance policy for renewal. It means that if any worker sustains critical injuries or dies within three months of the expiry of the policy, he would get all the benefits of the policy.

The government also said that the families of the workers could also renew the policy.

Chairman of the Insurance Board Chiranjibi Chapagain said that the announcement was important for the safety of Nepalese workers abroad and expressed his commitment to prepare the necessary policy guidelines at the earliest.