32 Musahar Women Empowerment Forum (WOMEF) groups has been formed by SAP-Nepal with the support of UNDEF under the Musahar women empowerment project titled “Strengthening gender-responsive local governance in Nepal” in four different municipalities (Barhathwa Municipality, Haripur Municipality, Basbariya Rural Municipality and Chandranagar Rural Municipality) of Sarlahi. These 32 WOMEF groups were formed in different dates from (20 October to 20 November 2021) in 15 different wards of four municipalities that included ward number 8, 11 and 13 of Barhathwa Municipality; ward number 1,5,6,7,8 and 9 of Haripur Municipality; ward number 2,3,4,6, and 7 of Chandranagar Rural Municipality and ward number 3 of Basbariya Rural Municipality. 1,525 Musahar women were affiliated with these WOMEF groups which was very first experience of Musahar women being affiliated with any social groups, said Janak Karki, Project Coordinator of SAP-Nepal.
Under the Musahar empowerment project, 30 Musahar women from four municipalities were trained through Training for Trainers (TOT) program as mobile trainers who later formed these 31 WOMEF groups in their respective wards. Each of these WOMEF groups comprises of 50 members and 5 Musahar women among each of these groups has been elected in vital positions of Chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer. This forum has been formed with the objective of empowering the Musahar community deprived of education and states services through enhancing their knowledge and encouraging them to seek for their economic, social and political rights along with enhancing accountability of the local government and coordination/cooperation with other development actors.
Speaking in the WoMEF establishment event, Ritu Raj Rishi, Chair of National Musahar Association of Nepal, said that advocating through groups for addressing issues and demands of the Musahar community and other Dalit Community is more effective rather than individual effort of approaching the people’s representatives and other concerned bodies. The forum along with holding monthly meetings, interactions and saving program also raises awareness of the community on education, health, sanitation, development and income generation and advocates for civil rights and duties and issues (social, political and economic) of this community. During the formation of the WOMEF group in Chitiya of Haripur, the members of the WOMEF were also involved in cleaning campaign which was highly appraised by the community and wards.