BBC 100 Women 2018: Nepal’s Uma Devi is World’s Top-10!

Here is an important update for Nepali women community!

Renowned news agency BBC featured Nepali woman politician Uma Devi Badi in its ‘BBC 100 Women 2018’ list released on November 19, 2018.

Uma Devi is currently the Provincial Assembly Member of Sudur Paschim Province of Nepal.

BBC releases a similar list every year including top 100 inspirational and influential women across the world. The 2018 list includes women of all ages ranging from 15-94 years from more than 60 countries.

The selected women share experiences of their struggle and achievements in various fields such as politics, business, social activism, fashion, art & photography, teaching, among other industries.

Making her nation proud, Uma Devi stood at the Top 10 position in the list above UK’s retired fashion designer Judith Balcazar (65), Peru’s Lawyer Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista (28), Uzbekistan’s lecturer Leyla Belyalova (61), among others.

Top 10 of the ‘BBC 100 Women 2018’ List:

1. Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin (33)- Social Impact Entrepreneur from Nigeria
2. Esraa al-Shafei (32) – Executive Director of a non-profit organization from Bahrain
3. Svetlana Alekseeva (18) – Fashion Model from Russia
4. Lizt Alfonso (51) –Director & Choreographer from Cuba
5. Nimco Ali (35) – Writer & Activist, Somaliland
6. Isabel Allende (76) – Author from Peru
7. Boushra Yahya Almutawakel (49) – Artist, Photographer & Activist from Yemen
8. Alina Anisimova (19) – Student Programmer from Kyrgyzstan
9. Frances Arnold (62) – Engineering Professor from US
10. Uma Devi Badi (54) – Member of Parliament P from Nepal

Uma is from the Badi community, which is considered “untouchable” in Nepal, and is working to change that perception, BBC said in a release.

Uma Devi- Only Politician in Top 10

Born in 1965 to a Badi family in the Thapagaun, Salyan district of Nepal, Uma Devi is known for her 48 day-long Badi movement, an unforgettable event in the history of Nepal.

In 2007, Uma Devi led a team of 500 Badi community members from 23 districts, who began their journey from their respective villages to Singha Durbar with a 26-point demand towards protection of Badi community’s rights and opportunities.

Badis have strong demands for permanent shelter, end to prostitution and against untouchability, besides registration of their births and citizenship in the name of mothers, among other serious issues, all led by Uma over the years.

Uma’s struggle for the protection of Badi community over the period earned a wide global-level appreciation. However, her efforts got due recognition when Nepali citizens chose her as a Provincial Assembly Member from the erstwhile Nepali Congress (NC) Government in 2017.

Hope the women leader would be successful in achieving long-standing goals towards the betterment of her community, ensure the overall well-being of Nepalis in her respective role and continue to be a role model for other women in Nepali society.

Congrats to Nepali Woman Influencer and the first Badi Parliament member Uma Devi!