“Mantri jyu, I have a question”

By Anne Mette Nordfalk, Information Worker MS Nepal

10. August 2007

“Mananiya Griha Mantri (Honorable Home Minister) why has the despotic monarchy not been abolished and why has the date for the CA elections not been fixed?”, a young woman is asking her question, load and clear. A young guy full of self-confidence takes over: “Mananiya Shikshya Mantri (Honorable Minister of Education), we need education in local languages in primary school, special scholarships for women and marginalized groups like Madhesis and Dalit”. The two youngsters who are playing home minister and minister of education both nod with serious expressions in their faces and note down the questions.

100 Nepalese youth between 18 and 25 years of age from Banke district spent five boiling hot summer days in Nepalgunj, district capital of Banke, partaking in a mock youth parliament, discussing the problems of Nepal from the perspective of the youth.

There is a need for fresh and idealistic politicians in Nepal. Therefore, Him Rights and MS Nepal supported the political education of the youth by coaching them on how the real parliament works, from the way of addressing ministers to debating to passing bills. The youngsters represented many groups in Nepalese society, from Brahmin/Chhetri to Dalit, hill dwellers to Terai Madhesies as well as disabled youth. In addition, the mock parliament comprised an equal number of men and women. Some have never been involved in politics, others represent political youth organisations.

One very important part of a mock parliament is selecting ministers and officials in other important parliamentary posts. To emulate the real interim parliament (as it is done at present) the youngsters made these decisions through consensus: Firstly, males and females were divided in two groups and were asked to select candidates. Long and intense discussions follow; it is hard to be inclusive in a country that homes so many diverse and overlapping social groups. Should a Muslim from Terai be seen as the representative of Muslim community or the Madhesi one? The facilitators from HimRights had a tough time but played a crucial role during this phase: coaching the youth, and calming their temper with singing and dancing whenever they boiled over.

A Dalit woman as prime minister

The most coveted post is obviously that of the prime minister. To select someone in a more inclusive manner than it has ever been done in the real parliament, the youth are urged to choose a woman, preferably from a marginalized group. This was not easy for the young men.

“The men were so sure that one of them should become prime minister, and in the end we actually had to put it to vote between a male and female candidate”, says Anjana Shakya, leader of HimRights. The majority of the youth voted for the female candidate Madhuri Bishworkarma, an 18-year old Dalit woman studying engineering.

“Even in the developed countries female prime ministers are rare. Therefore, we thought we would set an example by choosing a woman”, Madhuri explains and continues: “Before I used to be allergic to politics; our politicians make many promises but once they are elected they don’t care about the people. But after playing the role of prime minister, I have gained a feeling of responsibility and an interest in joining real politics”.

Couldn’t enter the homes of her friends

Being Dalit, Madhuri has personal experience of discrimination: “In my school in the village, I was the only Dalit girl. So, most of my friends were from so-called higher castes. They could come and visit my house, but I did not dare to enter theirs. Even though they urged me to do so when their parents were away”, Madhuri recalls. She remembers one incident where the family of one of her friends made her eat on the porch and did not serve her yoghurt and other delicacies that they were eating inside: “I was about eight years old but I still remember the embarrassment. I pretended to eat but I couldn’t”, she recalls. After that incident she stopped visiting her friends in their homes.

Later Madhuri and her family were displaced due to the conflict and they resettled in Nepalgunj. This has been fortunate for Madhuri, as she has not faced problems of discrimination in the city, and as moving has enabled her to study.

An exercise in political and social awareness

“This mock parliament has definitely increased my political awareness”, a petite Brahmin girl, who has been very vocal throughout the program, explains. She had anticipated to run for one of the important posts and was supported by all her friends, but now she understands that inclusion and democracy sometimes mean stepping back and giving way to others. “So now I am happy just being just a member of parliament”, she smiles.

“A youth parliament gives the youth a sense of what it is like to be a politician, also when it is difficult”, Anjana says. She says that HimRights has witnessed several examples of youth becoming socially or politically active after participating in mock parliament. “This time there was a young man who was extremely critical of the whole thing right from the beginning”, she recalls “He even threatened to leave! But after the event he came up to me and said, 'let me go without food but please include me in something like this again!' Also, he told that now he was ready to start up similar activities in his own place”.

The youth parliament concluded with a 33-point manifesto to be submitted to the real parliament. Some of the main demands in the manifesto are: establishment of a youth ministry, respect for youth and better education for youth in the countryside. “The youth prepared the document entirely on their own, now we will take it to parliament”, Anjana proudly concludes.

Facts about Him Rights’ Youth Parliament

HimRights youth mock parliament is held for five days. The first two-three days are training and orientation. Then a mock Parliament is set up and put to work on issues raised by the participants. Everything is done as per the rules and procedures of real parliament. HimRights work with the assistance of two joint secretaries from the (real) parliament secretariat. The youth Mock Parliament concludes with a press conference and a manifesto, which is sent to the real parliament.

Facts about HimRights:

HimRights was initiated in 1990. The organization is committed to defend the rights of the underprivileged section of the society namely, women, children, minorities, indigenous people, refugees, internally displaced persons and so-called untouchables and the especially disabled people. Women and children are the primary focus of the organization.

Read more about HimRights on www.himrights.org/