DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING WOMEN: Meena Kumari Khadka Samudayeek Balbikash Tatha Mahila Jagaran, Katari

Women are undoubtedly the backbone of any society, delivering to multiple roles every single day. Yet, their multifaceted role within their households and in the society remains invisible and largely underappreciated in many parts of the world. This, in turn, has led to different forms of inequality, injustice and oppression against women, often rendering them financially dependent and vulnerable to a number of social evils. For centuries now, women have been enduring social and cultural pressures that limit their professional and personal development.

Ms Meena Khadka at her office

Despite these social norms and restrictions, exemplary are the women who have dared to rise above lopsided traditionalisms, acquired recognition in a patriarchal society and endeavoured to achieve the same for others. This is a story of one such woman, Meena Kumari Khadga from Katari Municipality-Ward 7 of Udayapur District. She manages an NGO called Community Children Development and Women Awareness Centre. The NGO operates as a local Community Rural Electrification Entity (CREE)within KatariMunicipality. What makes Meena’s story truly remarkable is the fact that, of the 256 CREEs, Community Children Development and Women Awareness Centre is the only female-managed CREEin the country. 

The Community Children Development and Women Awareness Centre, were established in 1996 by seven founding members (two male and five female). The focus areas of the organization are education, adult literacy, safe-motherhood program and income generation. In 2005, the NGO started to operate as CREE. This entity operates as a local distributor and manager of electricity[1] under the Rural Electrification Program initiated and supported by the Nepal Electricity Authority.

Meena recalls the earlier days when she was the only woman amongst 60 male participants in the management training programmes conducted by NEA prior to the implementation of the Rural Electrification Program. Meena shares, ‘Energy sector in Nepal is largely a male-dominated area. In the beginning, attending meetings alone seemed like a formidable task, for which I would have to muster all the confidence I had. The fact that I came from a remote village made it all the more a daunting task for me.’

Till date, of the 1100 households of the CREE command area, Meena’s organisation has managed to electrify more than 800 households. Total coverage has not been possible “due to poverty” and hence the inability to make the requisite initial deposit.

 

Ms Khadka creating awareness on ICS among community people

She adds, ‘There have been times when neighbours would rebuff me for the work that I am involved in. There have been times when I was threatened. People have not refrained from stating that my work is the cause for my single status, questioning my integrity.Walking this path, building independence, and fighting cultural and social norms have not been easy. However, along the way I have met friends who have encouraged me and helped me overcome those that opposed my decisions.’ Today, she is a well-respected figure in her community. She is also the Vice-Chairperson of National Association of Community Electricity Users-Nepal (NACEUN). She is sometimes referred to as “Chulo Aama”(translates to ‘stove mother’) as she has also contributed to the installation of improved stoves in many households.

Meena claims that CRTN/WEE-Nepal Project has provided a source of inspiration for increasing women’s access to clean energy and empowering them.  Three years ago, she participated in a capacity building program on gender and energy organized for CREE managers. She says the program enhanced her understanding of the energy and gender nexus and the need of clean energy in improving the livelihood of women. Today her organisation works closely with WEE Nepal Project in the following areas:

•         Awareness creation about the need for clean cooking solutions,
•         Mobilisation of ICS women entrepreneurs (WEs)
•         Sustain the work of the ICS WEs
•         Periodic skill upgrading

The organisation has revised their policy to ensure increased access to electricity for women. The agenda incorporated in the policy includes:

•        Special technical services for female customers,
•         Meter to be registered in the name of women,
•         Provide information and create awareness of women on other development areas

As the electricity connection is available to citizenship card holders or landholders, it is to be noted that the organisation also supports women in acquiring these cards where possible. To date, 300 women have been supported in the process.

                             

Meena strongly believes that women can do as much as men. Education opportunities, women-friendly workplace environment, organisation’s dedication and deliverance based on need assessment are areas to focus on for enabling more women to enter this sector.

According to Meena, a rocket  stove is the best cooking solution in her area. The promotion of cookstoves has been challenged due to habits, culture and practices, which inhibit the ability to transition from traditional stove to improved stoves. To increase the popularity of Rocket Stoves, three issues need immediate attention:

1. Technically it will be necessary to increase the diameter and the size of the fire gate.
2. Access to finance for poor households to enable them to purchase the units
3.  Increase awareness amongst the users

The organisation has been lobbying at the District Development Committee (DDC) Level (apex local government) for allocating budget for women’s development and cookstove promotion program.  A Women’s Network has been formed under the leadership of MeenaKumariKhadka. They have been paying frequent visits to the Ward and Municipality Council advocating for women’s accessibility to clean cooking systems.

The Women’s Network led by Meena has been able to secure 18 lakhs of the district development fund for women’s development. This will be spent in awareness programs on women’s rights, leadership development, promoting ICS with technical training for women and subsidy. This fund will be utilized to conduct the foregoing activities and benefit all 11 wards of the Katari Municipality.

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[1]Grid Electrification Scheme