NUK convened a national workshop examining a specific, persistent pattern documented through its ongoing research: women holding reserved seats on union parishad councils frequently remain excluded from substantive committee work and budget decisions, despite their formal presence in the chamber.
What the research shows
Findings presented at the workshop, drawn from NUK's Women's Political Representation Program, indicate that reserved-seat councillors are disproportionately assigned to ceremonial or social-welfare committees rather than budget, infrastructure, or planning committees — the bodies where most substantive local decisions are made.
Panel discussion themes
- Whether formal quota reform or informal norm change offers a faster path to closing the influence gap.
- How NUK's councillor training — covering budget literacy and council procedure — has shifted participation patterns among trained cohorts.
- International comparisons, including insights from NUK's exchange with the Yunnan Provincial Women's Federation.
Next steps
NUK will incorporate workshop findings into its ongoing research series and continue its councillor training program for the next election cycle.