'Media needs to give space for women's entrepreneurship issues'

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Mar. 31: Media professionals and human rights activists have emphasised the need for mainstream media to give greater space to stories of women entrepreneurs, including small-scale ventures, in a positive and inspiring manner.

In an interaction programme on the role of media in promoting women's entrepreneurship organised by Sancharika Samuha Nepal, participants shared that Nepalese media are dominated by political issues, which need to change.

Editor-in-Chief of Barakhari, Hari Bahadur Thapa, stressed the need to bring forward inspirational stories of women entrepreneurs as a positive step that can motivate others.

Woman entrepreneur Shyam Vadan Shrestha shared her experience, stating that despite managing family responsibilities alongside business, women entrepreneurs receive limited media coverage and require greater support for promotion and market access.

Human rights activist Charan Prasai stressed the importance of addressing women's entrepreneurship from a human rights perspective, while advisor and former chair of Sancharika Samuha, Babita Basnet, highlighted the role of digital platforms in expanding outreach.

Sancharika Samuha President Kamala Panthi pointed out that media still tends to prioritise negative stories such as violence and abuse over women’s achievements.

During the programme, it was shared that Sancharika Samuha, with support from GIZ Nepal, has published 21 fellowship stories titled “Udyami Mahila”, highlighting the struggles and successes of women entrepreneurs across the country.