Nepal, thousands of girls denied education because of Hindu culture
by Kalpit Parajuli
In rural areas more than 60% does not finish primary school. Families send their daughters to school only to access the subsidy programs.
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - More than 60% of Nepalese girls living in rural areas drop out of school because of poverty and the strict Hindu traditions that discriminate against women. This has been revealed by a recent study of the United Nation World Food Program (UNWFP). According to the study, many parents send their daughters to school to take advantage of economic incentives distributed by UN and NGOs.
Gangadhar Joshi, UNWFP coordinator in Darchula district (western Nepal), explains that in many villages the parents bring the children only during aid distribution days. Once the cycle of aid ends, the girls are removed from the schools.
In Nepal, about 70% of the population is Hindu. This culture has been promoted for centuries by a confessional monarchy and still bears influence throughout society. The population is divided into 60 castes and sub-castes and about 100 ethnic groups, which in poorer areas do not take into account the difference in religious beliefs. Access to public school or those managed by non-governmental organizations is affected by the division of caste, and gender group. The girls of Dalit or tribal origin are unlikely to complete the primary cycle, which is instead allowed to males. To gain independence, hundreds of women joined the Maoist revolution (1996 - 2006). It started from the western districts of the country, more subject to caste and gender discrimination, and in 2006 led to the fall of the Hindu monarchy.
Manprasad Wagle, an expert on education, emphasizes that women in rural areas are considered second-class citizens. Their livelihoods still depend on husbands and male family members. In addition to this are the dictates of Hindu beliefs. Many parents marry their daughters when they are still children because according to tradition if a woman gets married before menstruation she will gain entrance to heaven for the entire family. For parents, school means they lose out on this opportunity. Many young girls as young as 8-9 years are already living at their husband’s home.
The proclamation of the secular state in 2006 has improved the situation. However, adequate facilities to accommodate students of both sexes are lacking. Most of the institutes are designed for males and do not have bathrooms divided by gender. Girls are often not allowed to wash or touch the water because they could make it impure. Which motivates young girls to give up reading and writing. Their only alternative is to start school as adults.
During these years, associations and non-governmental organizations have launched a series of programs dedicated to teaching women. Among these there is Room to Read, an international NGO that helps local communities to build schools, providing books and school supplies. Chinjaji Sherestha, Nepal representative of the NGO, said that the interest and curiosity of many adult women to resume their studies has led the organization to create a program dedicated to them. "We started to create classes for adults only - he explains - where they have the opportunity to learn to read and write. Thousands of women have joined the initiative. "
Gangadhar Joshi, UNWFP coordinator in Darchula district (western Nepal), explains that in many villages the parents bring the children only during aid distribution days. Once the cycle of aid ends, the girls are removed from the schools.
In Nepal, about 70% of the population is Hindu. This culture has been promoted for centuries by a confessional monarchy and still bears influence throughout society. The population is divided into 60 castes and sub-castes and about 100 ethnic groups, which in poorer areas do not take into account the difference in religious beliefs. Access to public school or those managed by non-governmental organizations is affected by the division of caste, and gender group. The girls of Dalit or tribal origin are unlikely to complete the primary cycle, which is instead allowed to males. To gain independence, hundreds of women joined the Maoist revolution (1996 - 2006). It started from the western districts of the country, more subject to caste and gender discrimination, and in 2006 led to the fall of the Hindu monarchy.
Manprasad Wagle, an expert on education, emphasizes that women in rural areas are considered second-class citizens. Their livelihoods still depend on husbands and male family members. In addition to this are the dictates of Hindu beliefs. Many parents marry their daughters when they are still children because according to tradition if a woman gets married before menstruation she will gain entrance to heaven for the entire family. For parents, school means they lose out on this opportunity. Many young girls as young as 8-9 years are already living at their husband’s home.
The proclamation of the secular state in 2006 has improved the situation. However, adequate facilities to accommodate students of both sexes are lacking. Most of the institutes are designed for males and do not have bathrooms divided by gender. Girls are often not allowed to wash or touch the water because they could make it impure. Which motivates young girls to give up reading and writing. Their only alternative is to start school as adults.
During these years, associations and non-governmental organizations have launched a series of programs dedicated to teaching women. Among these there is Room to Read, an international NGO that helps local communities to build schools, providing books and school supplies. Chinjaji Sherestha, Nepal representative of the NGO, said that the interest and curiosity of many adult women to resume their studies has led the organization to create a program dedicated to them. "We started to create classes for adults only - he explains - where they have the opportunity to learn to read and write. Thousands of women have joined the initiative. "
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