The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

The process of sustainable and balanced social and national development is being hampered seriously for continuous deprivation of the female UP members of their proper rights in the local public bodies at the grassroots level of the country.

As a result, the government's steps to strengthen the local government bodies for ensuring smooth development, women empowerment, institutionalising democracy, protecting human rights and justice, are yet to be effectively and fully implemented to achieve the long cherished goals. Dozens of female UP members, women and human rights activists while talking to BSS recently narrated their field level grim experiences about deprivation of the female UP members and stressed for ensuring their rights in making local government institutions more effective.

They said relaxation of administrative control in the activities of union parishads along with due constitutional empowerment of female UP members are must to give democracy a firm footing and ensuring women empowerment for uniform development in the country.

They underscored the need for local participatory work plans, preparing policies and allocation of funds and just facilities to the female UP members and properly involving in the overall development activities of the local government institutions for sustainable development.

The female UP members expressed these opinions at a workshop here recently organised by Nari Adhikar Unit (NAU) of Rangpur- Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) for the female UP members and female federation leaders of RDRS of eight northern districts. A total of 102 elected female UP members and 26 elected female federation chairmen of RDRS from Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Dinajpur districts took part in the workshop. Women Rights Coordinator of NAU Manjushree Saha, Female UP members Rokeya Begum, Kulsuma Begum, Delwara Begum, Rahela Begum, Julekha Begum, and many others told BSS that women empowerment and sustainable developments could get a strong footage if the female UP members' rights were ensured.

Citing their various practical field level examples, they narrated to BSS as how they are being deprived of their rights as elected public representatives because of the attitudes of the male UP chairmen and existing social discriminations towards the women. They alleged that male UP chairmen never involve female UP members in decision-making process, inform about the development and other activities of the local government bodies, always harass mentally and in some cases, physically and undermine their abilities and rights.

The female UP members do not get their due share of the old- age allowances, VGF and VGD cards, winter clothes, relief materials and other goods for proper distribution among the poor and the chairmen never inform and provide them information coming from the upazila headquarters. Putting special emphasis on rural arbitration, they said the process could create friendly relations and congenial social environment among all rural people, especially the backward section, poor and distressed and would help all in getting justice at their doorsteps and establishing rights of the women.