LAHAN, July 31: Chief Minister (CM) of Madhesh Province, Satish Kumar Singh, said the provincial government is fully committed to bringing women entrepreneurs into the mainstream.
Speaking at the committee formation program of the newly formed Federation of Women Entrepreneurs’ Association of Nepal (FWEAN) in Lahan, Siraha, on Thursday, CM Singh said, “The provincial government is ready to cooperate and support efforts to create an environment where talented women can showcase their abilities.” He stressed that society, the province, and the country cannot move forward without empowering women. “It’s not just about participation—women must take on leadership roles in national development. The provincial government is prepared to work strategically at both policy and implementation levels,” he added.
“Every woman is engaged in productive work, but their skills have not been commercialized,” he said. “We will help create an income-generating environment by marketing their skills. We are ready to bring the talents and artistry of women to the market.”
“There are many skilled and creative women in villages across Madhesh, but they have not been able to bring their products to the market,” CM Singh continued. “The inability to access markets is the only obstacle to income generation. If we can break this barrier and create a supportive market environment, we can develop and promote women’s entrepreneurship in Madhesh.”
“We worship goddesses in temples but keep our mothers at home suppressed,” said Chief Minister Singh. “Now, we must bring the talents and skills of the women in our homes to light. If we can transform their talents into entrepreneurship, the country will soon become strong both economically and socially.”
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Highlighting the provincial government’s policy to deploy agricultural women volunteers in every ward to promote commercial agriculture, CM Singh noted that women have been supporting families while many men are abroad. “If we can help them become entrepreneurs, they will become self-reliant—and if women become self-reliant, society and the country will follow,” he said.
“The country’s population is 30 million, but only 14 million people have received skill-based training from CTEVT,” said CM Singh. “However, the number of those who have actually started enterprises is low. Many people have attended multiple training programs and simply collected certificates.”
Although Siraha is known for mangoes, they have not been commercialized, he said. “If we can produce and market mango-based products like candy, amot, pickles, and juice, we can link production with entrepreneurship,” he said. This, he believes, would help women become entrepreneurs more easily.
He pointed out that while women in Madhesh are highly skilled, their abilities have not been recognized, causing them to lag behind. “Women’s skills should no longer be confined to the home. The provincial government is ready to be a supporter and partner in this endeavor,” he said.
Mayor of Lahan Municipality, Mahesh Prasad Chaudhary, expressed readiness to provide all necessary support for the development of women’s entrepreneurship. Congratulating the newly formed Women Entrepreneurs’ Association in Siraha, he said, “We will provide full support to help women become self-reliant and entrepreneurial.” He asserted that empowering women leads to overall societal development and that a single entrepreneurial woman can strengthen not just her household but the entire community.
DIG Uma Prasad Chaturvedi, Chief of Madhesh Province Police, said the main reason women in Madhesh face domestic violence is their lack of self-reliance. He emphasized that women are often compelled to endure domestic violence due to economic dependence, and stressed the need to engage them in entrepreneurship to overcome this. “This will ultimately liberate them from domestic and other forms of violence. Madhesh Province Police is committed to providing all necessary support to create a safe environment for women entrepreneurs to operate their businesses,” he said.
Shova Gyawali, Central President of the FWEAN, emphasized the need for women to pursue entrepreneurship to become economically empowered. She spoke about the policy and programmatic initiatives that have guided women toward empowerment. She said women across the country have been energized under the federation’s leadership. “Even women who were previously confined at home despite their enthusiasm are now excited to become self-reliant entrepreneurs,” she said. “They need support from all three tiers of government—local, provincial, and federal. With the government’s backing, women will become exceptional contributors to societal and national development.”
President Gyawali remarked, “Currently, women lack adequate economic empowerment. It is now necessary to engage in entrepreneurship. We must create a safe and accessible environment for women to work in small, home-based, and medium-sized industries. For that, policies and regulations must be women-friendly.”
She also advocated for increased domestic and local production through women’s entrepreneurship. Referring to Mahatma Gandhi’s promotion of local products using the spinning wheel in India, Gyawali said prioritizing domestic production can also improve Nepal’s economic situation.
She emphasized the importance of women’s education. “When women are educated, they become economically strong. They can better educate their children and manage household responsibilities,” she said.
Gyawali mentioned that the FWEAN has been working for the past 23 years to empower women both economically and socially. She noted that the federation has now established its presence in all 77 districts of the country.
She added that within the past year, 18 new women entrepreneurs’ associations have been formed, and another 18 have been revitalized. According to her, the foundation of women’s empowerment lies in entrepreneurship, domestic production, and education—elements that will drive not only women's progress but the economic and social development of the entire society.
The newly formed executive committee of the Women Entrepreneurs’ Association in Siraha was administered the oath by FWEAN President Shova Gyawali on Thursday. The new executive committee includes Khusbhu Jaiswal as President, Parbati Chaudhary as Vice President, Anupama Jha as General Secretary, Januka Parajuli as Treasurer, along with a total of 11 members.