Minister for Water Supply Pradeep Yadav has said that women's leadership in drinking water and sanitation users' organizations is still challenging.
Speaking at an interaction on 'Women's Leadership in Drinking Water Users' Organizations: Status, Opportunities and Challenges' organized by the Federation of Drinking Water and Sanitation Users Nepal (FEDWASUN), Nepal here today, he said the role of women in the field of drinking water, sanitation and hygiene was important.
"Drinking water and sanitation are not only basic needs but also related to the health, prosperity and development of the society as a whole. The role of women in this field is even more important. Women often have the primary responsibility of managing water in the household, practising sanitation and maintaining health security,” he said.
Stating that women are capable in every field, Minister Yadav said that they can do any kind of work if given the opportunity.
He said: "Less number of women is seen in leadership roles in consumer organizations. Moreover, women's effective participation from policy making to implementation levels is still challenging.”
The Water Supply Minister also said that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the field of drinking water and sanitation could not be achieved without women empowerment.
He expressed his commitment to strictly implement the legal provisions to ensure the participation of women in consumer organizations.
Minister Yadav said that the legal provisions to ensure mandatory representation of women in organizations related to drinking water and sanitation would be implemented and special quotas, capacity building programmes and financial assistance would be provided to promote women's leadership.
Training, skill development and empowerment programs would be conducted to enhance the leadership role of women, he added.
Stating that community participation was necessary for sustainable management of water resources, Minister Yadav urged the consumers to stop misuse of water, conserve sources and adopt proper sanitation practices.
He appreciated the role played by the FEDWASUN in bringing women into leadership roles and said that the government has given high priority to the initiative of the Federation.
