(Kathmandu)  The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare has prepared the draft of a bill to end social malpractices carried out in the name of religion and tradition.

Sher Jung Karki, undersecretary at the legal section of the ministry, said the government plans to complete district-level meetings to finalise the bill this fiscal. The bill has identified 53 types of social malpractices and traditions in the country.

“After completion of the meetings, we will forward the bill to the Parliament,” said Karki, adding that it will be an umbrella act to curb all social ills. “After the approval of the bill, we will categories the evil practices.”

Every act giving rise to discrimination and violence in the name of religion will be considered punishable, Karki said and added that the bill aims to keep physical, mental, sexual and economic violence at bay.

According to the bill, the court can press for compensation for the victims of social ills as per the nature of discrimination and violence. 

For physical injury, the perpetrator will have to bear treatment expenses. The bill provisions maximum two years of imprisonment and Rs 50,000 fine on perpetrators and half the punishment for accomplices.

Nepali girls and women have been facing discrimination and violence such as child marriage, Kumari (worshipping young pre-pubescent girls as a sign of the divine female energy or Devi), Deuki (offering girls to temples), dowry-related violence, Jari (buying someone else’s wife), bonded labour, and witchcraft.

“The bill allows the victim to lodge a complaint with a police station, a local body or the National Women’s Commission,” said Karki. “It aims to guarantee every individual the right to live with dignity.”

See the original news story on thehimalayantimes.com.