By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KATHMANDU, Nepal – 200 Nepali women marched through the capital to publicly denounce a government scheme that offers to pay cash incentives to men for marrying widows.

The government says the scheme seeks to help widows who face social and cultural barriers in a majority Hindu society. Moreover, it has been deemed necessary in part because of the 10-year-long civil war that claimed up to 13,000 lives and widowed many women. Often widows are ostracized and discriminated against due to religious and cultural beliefs. The government believes cash incentives will help persuade men to marry them and re-integrate them into society.

Several women and human rights agencies in Nepal strongly disagree saying the payments “reduce widows to a source of cash.” They propose the money should be spent improving education and healthcare for widows and their children.

One of the protest organizers and founder of the group, Women for Human Rights, Lily Thapa, said “We are totally against the government’s decision to give 50,000 rupees as an incentive for couples to marry. This goes against the principles of human rights. That’s why we urge the government to bring in other social security measures to empower women who are widowed.” Many campaigners have also expressed concern that the cash incentives could encourage men to marry widows and later abandon them. They further warned that the scheme would turn women into cash cows and open up a portal for human traffickers.

“It is the right of single women to live as they want. But society does not treat them properly. They are looked down on, and we want to change that” said finance ministry spokesman, Shankar Adhikari.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Nepal Widows Dismiss Marriage Cash Incentive – August 10,   2009  

Reuters India – Widows Protest Marriage Incentive  – August 10, 2009

The New Zealand Herland – Nepal Offers $970 to Marry Widows – August 10, 2009