‘Ensure better access to investment for women’

Women entrepreneurs have urged planners and policymakers to introduce policies and programmes that ensure better access to investment for the women at fair interest rates. During an Advocacy Workshop on Women’s Economic Development held here on Monday, they underscored the need for ensuring women entrepreneurs’ right to information and its dissemination and capacity-building at grassroots level so that women can take advantage of banking facilities. They sought women-friendly technology, particularly in agriculture, increasing the cap of the Women’s Enterprise Development Fund from Rs150,000 to at least Rs2 million and making bank accounts accessible to all. Bina Pradhan, advisor to the Federation of Business and Professional Women, in her presentation on “Women are Worthwhile Investments”, drew the attention towards the lived experience of women entrepreneurs with nation’s socioeconomic and financial constraints ensuring that women remain at the peripheries. The workshop was conducted with financial support from the Australian Embassy. Ambassador Glenn White concluded the workshop stating the 24 percent interest charged by some financial institutions was an “abomination” and “if women can succeed even with that 24 percent tied to their ankles, what they could do if the interest was 4 percent?” Bharati Silawal Giri, working on gender equality and social inclusion issues, highlighted the need for inclusive growth, for all sections of society especially for poor women, marginalized and the youth. “In parts of Nepal, if a cow dies, the man cries, if his wife dies, he doesn’t. This is because the cow is purchased on loans, which he has to repay. But he can always get another wife”. Vice-chair of the National Planning Commission Yuba Raj Khatiwada alerted participants on issues of positive discrimination and resulting regulatory arbitrage and the need for social reform. Source: ekantipur