Assessing Female Ownership of Assessing Female Ownership of Fixed Assets in Nepal: A new Feature Fixed Assets in Nepal: A new Feature

of the Population Census 2001of the Population Census 2001

Assessing Female Ownership of Assessing Female Ownership of Fixed Assets in Nepal: A new Feature Fixed Assets in Nepal: A new Feature

of the Population Census 2001of the Population Census 2001

Ganga Devi DabadiGanga Devi Dabadi

DirectorDirector

Government of Nepal

Central Bureau of Statistics

Structure of the presentation

Population Census in Nepal Population Census in Nepal Main Departure in 2001 census from Previous Main Departure in 2001 census from Previous

censusescensuses Objectives of engendering of 2001 census Objectives of engendering of 2001 census Ownership of property by the householdOwnership of property by the household in census Why assets ownership data at sex disaggregated Why assets ownership data at sex disaggregated

levellevel Involvement of UNIFEMInvolvement of UNIFEM & UNDP Main actions undertaken in order to come to a Main actions undertaken in order to come to a

reliable datasetreliable dataset Some Summary ResultsSome Summary Results

Population Census in Nepal

The Census of 2001 isThe Census of 2001 is the tenth in a series of the population the tenth in a series of the population enumerationenumeration

First census done in 1911

The Census is done in two phases – the Household Listing operation followed by the Census Enumeration.

The main data source that provides population database at all levels.

Population composition, distribution, growth and change at various points of time are only provided by the census

The census data are used as benchmark, for fixing the target The census data are used as benchmark, for fixing the target as well as for evaluation of the Government Plans and as well as for evaluation of the Government Plans and Programs.Programs.

The census questionnaire of 2001 for the first time, especially The census questionnaire of 2001 for the first time, especially asked the question on whose name (male or female member asked the question on whose name (male or female member of the household) the property ownership was recordedof the household) the property ownership was recorded

Noticeable differences in the questionnaire as well as the Noticeable differences in the questionnaire as well as the methodology of data collection in the 2001 censusmethodology of data collection in the 2001 census

In the 2001 census, special attention was given to the issues In the 2001 census, special attention was given to the issues related to gender, women, children and the disabledrelated to gender, women, children and the disabled

Economic aspects, the household work and the extended Economic aspects, the household work and the extended economic activity were redefined (to include work mainly economic activity were redefined (to include work mainly carried out by women) carried out by women)

Efforts to overcome the under reporting and under coverage Efforts to overcome the under reporting and under coverage of especially female participation in the national economyof especially female participation in the national economy

Main Departure in 2001 census from Previous Main Departure in 2001 census from Previous censusescensuses

Make the census most appropriate source of gender Make the census most appropriate source of gender sensitive data sensitive data

Help to “evaluate” women’s status in the societyHelp to “evaluate” women’s status in the society

Assess women’s contribution to the economy Assess women’s contribution to the economy

Help the policymakers identify and formulate Help the policymakers identify and formulate appropriate policies for the empowerment of Nepali appropriate policies for the empowerment of Nepali women. women.

So it was decided to engender the whole process of So it was decided to engender the whole process of the 2001 census “to provide sex disaggregated data the 2001 census “to provide sex disaggregated data

for the gender sensitive policies and programs”.for the gender sensitive policies and programs”.

Objectives of engendering of 2001 censusObjectives of engendering of 2001 census

Ownership of property by the householdOwnership of property by the household

The earlier censuses too collected most of the data at a The earlier censuses too collected most of the data at a sex disaggregated level. sex disaggregated level.

But in case of the ownership of property by the But in case of the ownership of property by the household the data was collected without household the data was collected without disaggregating the ownership of the property on the disaggregating the ownership of the property on the basis of gender (or no question was asked on whose basis of gender (or no question was asked on whose name the property was registered provided it was in the name the property was registered provided it was in the name of one of the members of the household).name of one of the members of the household).

The census questionnaire especially asked on whose The census questionnaire especially asked on whose name (male or female member of the household) the name (male or female member of the household) the property ownership was in the 2001 census .property ownership was in the 2001 census .

Why assets ownership data at sex Why assets ownership data at sex disaggregated level?disaggregated level?

Fixed property like land and buildings generally owned Fixed property like land and buildings generally owned by male members of the householdby male members of the household

Daughters had right on parental property on limited Daughters had right on parental property on limited cases (eg, no sons, unmarried till advance age etc)cases (eg, no sons, unmarried till advance age etc)

Property ownership closely linked with empowerment Property ownership closely linked with empowerment and independence and also with female and independence and also with female entrepreneurshipentrepreneurship

Government was considering policies to increase female Government was considering policies to increase female ownership of property ownership of property

Women empowerment has come into fore during the Women empowerment has come into fore during the last few yearslast few years

UNIFEMUNIFEM & UNDP involvement

UNIFEM involved through a special project UNIFEM involved through a special project “Interventions to engender the Nepal 2001 “Interventions to engender the Nepal 2001 census operations” census operations”

Inclusion of gender specialists in various Inclusion of gender specialists in various consultation processes and technical committee consultation processes and technical committee entrusted with the planning and execution of entrusted with the planning and execution of the census the census

"Mainstreaming Gender Equity Programme "Mainstreaming Gender Equity Programme (MGEP)" a UNDP supported project on (MGEP)" a UNDP supported project on "Mainstreaming Gender Considerations into "Mainstreaming Gender Considerations into National Development" also helped the census National Development" also helped the census process.process.

Actions Undertaken in engendering census of 2001Actions Undertaken in engendering census of 2001

• Gender sensitization workshopsGender sensitization workshops• Brainstorming sessions for media Brainstorming sessions for media

campaigningcampaigning• National workshop on mediaNational workshop on media• Material development & publicity with Material development & publicity with

focus on gender sensitivityfocus on gender sensitivity• Formation of technical committees with Formation of technical committees with

gender specialistsgender specialists• Occupation & industry classification Occupation & industry classification

including jobs generally done by women including jobs generally done by women (basket weaving, fruit/vegetable preserving)(basket weaving, fruit/vegetable preserving)

Actions Undertaken in engendering census of 2001Actions Undertaken in engendering census of 2001

• Questionnaire & manual with specific Questionnaire & manual with specific emphasis on gender sensitivityemphasis on gender sensitivity

• Inclusion of visuals in training (Special care Inclusion of visuals in training (Special care taken to show the women’s involvement in taken to show the women’s involvement in various aspects of life and ownership of various aspects of life and ownership of assets in these visuals)assets in these visuals)

• Women supervisors & interviewers Women supervisors & interviewers encouragedencouraged

• Training of census personnel (gender issues Training of census personnel (gender issues and assets ownership thoroughly covered)and assets ownership thoroughly covered)

• Gender specific approach in data collectionGender specific approach in data collection• Gender specific tabulation of resultsGender specific tabulation of results

Some Summary ResultsSome Summary Results

• According to the 2001 census, the country had According to the 2001 census, the country had 4.25 million households with 23.15 million 4.25 million households with 23.15 million persons. The number of males was 11.56 persons. The number of males was 11.56 million and that of females was 11.59 million. million and that of females was 11.59 million.

• Predominantly the households are headed by Predominantly the households are headed by men. According to the census results only 14.9 men. According to the census results only 14.9 percent of the households reported that they percent of the households reported that they were headed by a female. It was just marginally were headed by a female. It was just marginally over from 13.2 percent of the previous census.over from 13.2 percent of the previous census.

• Only about 17 percent of households reported Only about 17 percent of households reported that one or more female member(s) had that one or more female member(s) had ownership either on land, or on house or on ownership either on land, or on house or on livestocklivestock

Some Summary ResultsSome Summary Results

• 5.3 percent of the households reported the 5.3 percent of the households reported the female members having ownership in land only, female members having ownership in land only, 0.8 percent on house only and 5.4 percent on 0.8 percent on house only and 5.4 percent on livestock only. livestock only.

• Overall, only 0.8 percent of the households had Overall, only 0.8 percent of the households had all three types of assets house, land and all three types of assets house, land and livestock in women’s names. livestock in women’s names.

• About 22 percent of the female headed About 22 percent of the female headed household had land or house in the name of a household had land or house in the name of a female member of the household where as the female member of the household where as the corresponding figure for the male headed corresponding figure for the male headed household was only 10 percent.household was only 10 percent.