Rights of female UP members must be ensured for empowerment

RANGPUR, Sept 5 (BSS) The process of sustainable and balanced social and national developments were being hampered seriously for continuous deprivation of the female UP members of their proper rights in the local public bodies at the grass roots level of the country. brAs a result, the government's steps to strengthen the local government bodies for ensuring smooth development, women empowerment, institutionalising democracy, protecting human rights and justice, are yet to be effectively and fully implemented to achieve the long cherished goals. brDozens of female UP members, women and human rights activists while talking to BSS recently narrated their field level grim experiences about deprivation of the female UP members and stressed for ensuring their rights in making local government institutions more effective. brThey said relaxations of administrative control in the activities of union parishads along with due constitutional empowerment of female UP members are must to give democracy at firm footing and ensuring women empowerment for uniform development in the country. brThey underscored the need for local participatory work- plans, preparing policies and allocation of funds and just facilities to the female UP members and properly involving in the overall development activities of the local government institutions for sustainable developments. brThe female UP members expressed these opinions at a workshop here recently organized by Nari Adhikar Unit (NAU) of Rangpur- Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) for the female UP members and female federation leaders of RDRS of eight northern districts. brA total of 102 elected female UP members and 26 elected female federation chairmen of RDRS from Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Dinajpur districts took part in the workshop.