| Abstract: | In Nepal the promotion of activities aimed at improving the skills and status of women was formerly the task of the national organization, Mahila Sangathan, but is now the responsibility of the newly created Subcommittee for Women's Affairs. The subcommittee operates under the guidance of the Co-ordinating Council for Social Services under the sponsorship of Her Majesty the Queen. The subcommittee cooperates through chapters located in each of the country's 75 districts. Many of these chapters are actively engaged in 1) promoting family planning via door to door campaigns and through training local women for family planning motivational work; 2) stimulating the production and marketing of crafts made by women; 3) providing legal assistance to women; and 4) conducting literacy programs for approximately 10,000 women. A new headquarters for the subcommittee is being built with UNESCO assistance. The committee hopes to establish a library in the new building since a lack of reading material is hindering progress in its literacy program. |
