Kishore Pahadi's portrayal of our representatives in Manjushree Thapa's Nepaliterature ("Seeking representation", #83) is spot on. However I feel the Mahila Tamangs can do much better if they are given proper education and opportunity. They are mostly nominated rather than elected merely to serve the purpose of the Local Government Act's mandate. Quota systems in the name of any equity are rather defective unless they are planned systematically. Okay one can say that introducing the reservation system for women is a positive step towards gender equity. It could have been more effective if it was tied up with the educational programs for women representatives. Government could have provided training packages for newly appointed women representatives. I do not think this needs a million dollars complex strategic plan with international experts. Maybe the Mahila Tamangs have failed us because they never got a chance even to prepare for their tests.

Poonam Rai
Bhatbhateni