SHARADA ADHIKARI

KATHMANDU: Walking through the forest to collect firewood and fodder was her daily chore. There were many other women like her who had quite a close acquaintance with forest and its resources” but none of them were ever able to reach the decision making level regarding the use and benefits of those resources.

While growing up in the lap of Jyalachiti forest of Kavrepalanchowk district” Apasara Chapagain realised the prevalent system was unfair. As such” this woman with her commitment and dedication not only brought an end to this unfair treatment of women of her district but of the entire nation.

The President of Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal (FECOFUN)” Chapagain with her tireless effort has now become the key person to ensure gender equity in not only in the organisational structure of FECOFUN” but even amongst the community forest users groups.

Entry into community forest

Born in Taukhal-4″ Panauti of Kavrepalanchowk” Chapagain had to work in the fields and also go to the forest to collect fodder and firewood. “While going to the forest” I realised that I should work for the community forest”” shares Chapagain who became the joint secretary of Jyalachiti Community Forest Users Group” Kavre in 1992 (2049 BS).

Before her” only men were involved in the committee of user group while women’s responsibility was just to collect fodder and firewood.

“But I felt being a woman one should not be limited only in the task of fodder and firewood collection” thus” joined the committee as joint secretary”” recalls Chapagain.

Days were tough initially as she “would be ignored during meetings and ideas would be rejected”. But she would display keen interest in the works” and eventually she managed to secure her space.

Introduction of FECOFUN

In 1995″ the government began to hand over the forests to the communities. “And in order to help the community forest users groups to face new challenges as well as to increase nationwide awareness” FECOFUN was established in June” 1995” where Chapagain became the treasurer.

“Till now the government has handed over forests to 17″808 community forest user groups and 15″000 user groups from among them are the members of FECOFUN”” she informs.

And this umbrella organisation of the community forest user groups has its federations in local level as well in all the 75 districts that aims “to develop means of livelihoods and to generate opportunities to reduce poverty through sustainable forest management and utilisation of resources” abiding by the approach of consensus in decision making”.

Ensuring gender equity

Since the time Chapagain entered the world of community forest” she had always felt discrimination against women. But Chapagain along with a few like-minded males were of the opinion that “it would be better to address the issues of forest by bringing forth the women who spend most of their time in the forest”. Therefore” they fought to ensure the presence of 50 per cent women in the different levels of FECOFUN throughout the country.

But it was not an easy task. “People would blame that women were inefficient and would not attend meetings” did not have good educational qualification” they could not tackle problems and so on”” recalls Chapagain” who however was not deterred by such comments. She was firm in her stand.

The discussion almost went for a month and finally her proposal was passed and she visited all 75 districts and nearly 5″000 community forest user groups of the country in around seven years. “There I observed that women were as efficient as males in handling forest related issues. The earlier blames were not seen even in the remote areas”” says Chapagain” who felt” “despite participation in a 50-50 basis with men” women were not given the important posts”.

As such” they again amended their statute where it was made mandatory to provide one of the posts of president or general-secretary to woman. Again it was compulsory for the federation to have one woman either as vice-president or general secretary. As such two important posts were ensured for women” as per Chapagain.

As of today” 14 district presidents of FECOFUN are women” she informs adding” “And it has been found that women are more accountable” transparent” have good coordination quality also”. Chapagain also took initiation to ensure 50 per cent presence of women in community forest user groups and that was mentioned when the Samudayik Ban Bikash Margadarshna was amended in 1999 (2056 BS). “Now” it is being implemented and FECOFUN is working as one of the facilitators for it”” she adds.

And with all this” Chapagain is happy because” “I led this movement during the time when nation was facing the conflict and these women have really proved themselves”.

Other achievements

Besides ensuring this equal participation of women” Chapagain and her organisation fought against the government’s attempt to “amend the Forest Act 2049 against the benefit of users”.

“In 2056-57″ we filed case in court against the government’s proposal that its share of income from the community forest would be 40 per cent” and we were able to win it”” expresses Chapagain. It has been almost two decades” she is in this sector and she still feels that some challenges like “inability to reach amongst poor and backward group of society” government’s attitude of not letting general public on what changes it has been bringing in laws and policies and lack of co-ordiantion between different organisations working in this sector” has created obstacles for smooth development of community forests in Nepal.