Thulung Women Society Introduction Thulung Women Society (TWS) is a continuous, inheritor, organized, autonomous, not-for-profit making, non-political and non-governmental organization. It is registered in the office of the Kathmandu District Administration of Nepal Government on 23rd July 2008 with the registered no. 31/064/65. It is also affiliated with the Social Welfare Council with the no. 23105 On 064/65. Thulung is the indigenous peoples of Nepal living in the hilly region of Eastern Part of Nepal. The ancestral land of Thulung is Mukli VDC in Solukhumbu district of Nepal but at present they are mostly found in the districts - Khotang, Okhaldhunga, Bhojpur, Taplejung, Morang, Jhapa, Udaypur, Sunsari and Ilam across the country. Background The Thulung community was oppressed, suppressed and dominated by feudal rulers and administrators for about 240 years and more. The participation and representation of the community in the operation of the state and in national building process was ignored long time. Their children, youth and adults were not allowed to receive education and they were discouraged to join in civil services and other mechanisms of the state. Due to the reasons the community is lagged behind in education, civil services, Army, Police and in political leadership. Their language, culture, traditional practices and customary laws were discouraged to practice and promote. However, the community is able to preserve their language, culture and have been residing in their ancestral territory and land. Now the main source of the feudal system, the monarchy has been declined, democratic government has been formed and a federal democratic republican country has been declared as an achievement of the Peoples’ Movement-II (2061/62). Interim Constitution-2063 BS has reflected to make the state mechanism an inclusive through the participation and representation of disadvantaged, back warded, marginalized minorities, excluded society and ethnic groups. Despite these reflection and commitment Thulung community is still under a threat of losing their identity. Their participation and representation at all level of state mechanisms are ignored. Particularly the Thulung Women are more deprived of enjoying civil and political rights, fundamental rights of indigenous women and over all human rights. They are in fact, more vulnerable and immediate attentions are needed to make them a competent and dignified citizen of the country. By number Thulung are more than 60,000 but the census of Nepal-2001 has reflected only 14,034 as Thulung mother language speakers. Thulung community have their own language, culture, life cycle and social structure in their territory and ancestral land and have been living there since time immemorial. Though, they are not officially recognized as indigenous peoples and not taken into account in national planning document. Considering the facts, Thulung Women Society has been established to contribute in uplifting the community mobilizing Thulung women for imparting knowledge, transferring skills and educating their overall human rights and the specific rights of indigenous peoples and indigenous women to take contribute in over all nation building. Vision: An egalitarian society with full of employment, efficiency, effectiveness and empowered Thulung Women is the vision of the Society. Mission: To make an effort for emancipation of the Thulung Women from the discrimination of gender, social, lingual and educational backwardness in the society is the mission of the Society. Goal: To uplift the Thulung Women Society, Thulung community and their language, religion and culture along with the promotion of socio-economic and culture of the community. Objectives: · To build up awareness about the rights of indigenous peoples to the Thulung women getting acquainted, united and coordinated among them, · To preserve the original arts, language, script, religion and history of Thulung indigenous peoples. · To publish Mukhpatra (face sheet) and to produce knowledgeable and informative audio, video materials conducting research and study. · To publish a Thulung Genealogy after conducting thorough research and study. · To act for greater benefit of Thulung women and to bring awareness on social, financial, educational and religious aspects of Thulung women. · To uplift the quality of Thulung women with protection and maintenance of the exploited and oppressed Thulung women. · To extend cooperation among others protecting and promoting Thulung women. · To conduct social developmental program by increasing democratic awareness. · To provide scholarship and manage appropriate prizes to recognize the contribution made for Thulung community and towards building egalitarian society and nation. · To conduct constructive work for improving socio-economic and health services as well of Thulung women. Salient Features of Good Governance: · Every 2 year a new Executive Committee will be elected by the General Assembly. · All members except honorary one are eligible for their candidacy in the election. · General Assembly approves the overall policies, strategies and work-plan and budget. · The Executive Committee implements the activities guided by the policies, strategies and specified in work-plan within the approved budget. · Operation of the bank account is made by joint signatures of Chairperson and Treasurer. · Conduction of an annual audit for management, general members and stakeholders. · Membership driven organization. · Legal entity. Organizational Structure: Contact Person: Balachandra Thulung Chairperson Mobile: 9841 293793 Email: thulungwomen@yahoo.com The General Assembly is the supreme agency of Thulung Women Society that elects Executive Committee in completion of every two years. The Executive Committee is constituted with 15 members including Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, General -Secretary, Secretary, Treasurer and 10 Members. Office Address: Mehpi, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-16 GPO 8975, EPC333 Tel. 4415186