Call for greater gender inclusion in budget planning

KATHMANDU: Stakeholders in Bagmati Province have highlighted the need to prioritize gender inclusion in the upcoming provincial budget.

Speaking at an orientation program organized by the Provincial Good Governance Center in Lalitpur, Bagmati Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama stressed that laws must ensure equal opportunities for all and reflect gender equity.

The program, attended by women members of the Provincial Assembly, aimed to build awareness around social inclusion and gender-responsive budgeting. Lama highlighted the growing participation of women in the provincial legislature, expressing hope that this would lead to broader inclusion across all sectors.

Speaker Bhuwan Kumar Pathak underscored the importance of aligning the program with the province’s policy and budget preparations.

“While 33 percent representation is a constitutional achievement, addressing inequality among women remains a challenge,” he said. “We should aim for 51 percent representation and stronger economic empowerment of women.”

Deputy Speaker Apsara Chapagain noted that equipping women lawmakers with knowledge of social inclusion would help shape more gender-friendly policies.

Gopal Krishna Neupane, Executive Director of the organizing body, added that the initiative aligns with Nepal’s constitutional commitment to inclusion and aims to influence policy and budget formulation accordingly.