The National Information Commission (NIC) has published a 29-point booklet titled “Information Related to Women’s Entitlements” in four languages: Maithali, Tharu, Tamang, Doteli. 

The NIC last year had published 10,000 copies of the booklet in Nepali and 5,000 copies in English. 

The booklet contains information related to economic benefits provided and initiatives taken by various agencies for women. 

According to the NIC, the booklet was published with an aim to raise awareness about women’s rights after finding that several women were not aware of their rights and the state benefits they are entitled to. The NIC said it would distribute the booklet published in various languages to districts with the support from UN Women. The booklet contains information like women are entitled to 20 percent rebate in annual income tax and 35 percent rebate on the fee while registering industries. 

While launching the booklet in four languages, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Sita Devi Yadav urged women to utilise they benefits they are entitled to. 

Geetanjali Singh of UN Women said: “The vision of the Constitution of Nepal and the globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals can be only realised if all citizens, especially the most excluded, have access to timely and relevant information to make informed choices about their human rights and demand accountability” 

In terms of women’s rights and benefits, the booklet also provides information about interest rates on loans taken from women entrepreneurship development fund, renewable energy grant, provision of scholarship, reservation of seats in technical education, orientation in foreign employment, maternity leave, women health programmes, free abortion provisions, right to parental property and reproductive health.