COUNTRY BACKGROUND - Gross National Happiness Commission

Women's Involvement in Development
III. Policies to Ensure the Participation of Women III. Policies to Ensure the Participation
of Women
5.14 During the 7FYP, the RGOB and the NWAB will continue to promote the participation of women in the
development process, and ensure that they obtain equal benefits from progress, in line with the overall objectives as
described in Chapter 3.
RGOB Policies and StrategiesRGOB Policies and Strategies
5.15 While the NWAB will play a major role in promoting the interests of women, all RGOB Ministries and
Departments will include the participation of women as one of their objectives. In this way, the participation of
women in all sectors of the economy will be ensured. The following strategies will be implemented by Government
Ministries and Departments:
(a) Women and girls will one of the priority target groups for the provision of health and education
services, in recognition of the lower school enrolment rates of girls and the fact that women's health is
more at risk. Adult education will also be targeted at women as higher literacy rates facilitate
improvements in health and hygiene practices.
(b) Efforts will made to include women in the mainstream of development, rather than relying on
traditional "women's" activities to improve their social welfare. New income generating activities
suitable for women will be identified and developed as the potential for significant income generation
from weaving may be limited. The Department of Trade and Industry will encourage the involvement
of women in the development of agro industries, particularly food processing and essential oil
distillation which appear to hold significant potential.
(c) The employment of women agricultural extension agents and Village Health Workers will be
increased, to encourage women to make greater use of Government services.
National Women's Association of BhutanNational Women's Association of Bhutan
5.16 Although the NWAB has become independent of Government, the Association will continue to work
closely with the relevant Departments and implement programmes with the following objectives:
(a) To strengthen the organization at the headquarters and the Dzongkhag levels. Institution building and
manpower training will be given high priority.
(b) Collection and analysis of data on women through detailed surveys on their socio-economic conditions
for future planning and policy making.
(c) Vocational training, basic skills and literacy, nutritional and health training to encourage self-reliance
and to promote women's role in the mainstream of national development.
(d) Encourage women to make use of rural credit facilities for income generating activities.
(e) To promote weaving and other traditional handicrafts and to provide an additional source of income
through the creation of market outlets. Surveys will be undertaken to assess the market potential for
woven products and handicrafts.
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