Newly appointed minister Jayapuri Gharti has refused to take office until there is 33 per cent women representation in the government. She has also requested her party, the Maoists in the ruling coalition to ensure an inclusive government. Ironically two women members from the party have already taken their office. Even Urmila Aryal and Bhagwati Chaudhary from the UML have joined the government.
The Maoists have been demanding an inclusive state from the days of 'people's war'. The party had 40 per cent women in its fighting force. However, the party's representation in the government has been exclusive like its counterparts the NC and UML. The present cabinet which has 16 Brahmins/Chettris, nine Janajatis, three Dalits and seven Madhesis/Muslims has only five women.
Struggle for women's political inclusion has been setback by lack of unity among the women politicians from different ideologies and parties. They talk about united movement outside the government but readily abandon the cause once in the office. There is also dispute among the women lawmakers from different parties regarding the numbers and modality of inclusion. In such a situation there cannot be effective coordination or lobbying.
The parliamentary decision to ensure one-third women representation in all state institutions has so far proved ineffective. In such a circumstance, having a constitutional provision to ensure proportional representation of women will make little difference. It is clear that for the commitment of inclusion to translate into actual implementation, Jaypuri and other women lawmakers will first have to fight for inclusion within their own party.
