Young Student Pratibha Kumari Sahni Takes Charge as Symbolic Mayor of Bideha Municipality

Dhanusha, 7th November 2023, In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering young women, Pratibha Kumari Sahni, an 18-year-old class 12 student, has been symbolically appointed as the Mayor of Bideha Municipality, Dhanusha for a day. This event took place under the auspices of Plan International Nepal's 'Girls Take Over' program.

Historic Moment for Youth Leadership

The symbolic appointment on 6th November 2023 Monday saw the actual Mayor of Bideha Municipality, Mr. Bechan Das, vacate his seat to Pratibha. This was not just a ceremonial act but a statement to support the empowerment of girls and the importance of nurturing leadership qualities from a young age.

Pratibha Sahni's Vision and Experience

Following her temporary assumption of the mayoral duties, Pratibha addressed the media, articulating that the opportunity was beyond her expectations and that she felt privileged to participate in such an experience. While her dream has always been to enter the teaching profession, she wholeheartedly took on the mayoral role. During her brief tenure, Pratibha engaged with municipal employees to understand the workings of the municipality, the developmental activities undertaken, and the challenges faced by citizens, with a focus on issues impacting girls in education and health sectors.

Bideha Municipality's Commitment to Education and Health

Sanjiv Sah, the Executive Officer of Bideha Municipality, briefed Pratibha on the mayor’s responsibilities and the various developmental projects executed by the municipality. The symbolic mayor was particularly informed about the budget allocation for the education sector, which stands at 42.2 million out of the total budget of 107.1 million. Further, Mr. Bechan Das highlighted the municipality's focus on education and health, ensuring that health posts are available in all nine wards, along with the emphasis on agricultural electrification and forthcoming solutions to irrigation issues for farmers.

This event marks a significant moment for Bideha Municipality, showcasing its forward-thinking approach in engaging the youth, especially young women, in governance and leadership.