Mayor Rina Kumari Sah Receives Grand Welcome for Transformative Governance in Maulapur

Rautahat. Residents of Maulapur Municipality in Rautahat gave a grand welcome and honor to Mayor Rina Kumari Sah today. The reception was held in recognition of her inspiring work in women's empowerment and good governance, which has brought pride to Maulapur.

Mayor Sah was recently honored by Onlinekhabar Media, ranking first among the '50 Influential Women 2082' in Nepal. Following this recognition, locals welcomed the Mayor upon her arrival in Maulapur.

Similarly, Mayor Sah was also welcomed in Birgunj yesterday. At a special ceremony held at the Om Party Palace in Birgunj, prominent figures expressed their appreciation for her inspiring contributions to women's empowerment and good governance, noting that she has enhanced the pride of the Madhesh region.

By making Maulapur smoke-free and completely tax-free, Mayor Sah has set an impressive example of development. Her initiatives, ranging from preventing female feticide to providing bicycles for female students and free ambulance services, have transformed the face of Maulapur today.

The policies and plans introduced by Mayor Sah have made Maulapur Municipality a model in areas including women's empowerment, education, health, physical infrastructure, and taxation. After being elected mayor for the first time in 2074, she launched the historic 'Municipality Smoke-Free Campaign' in the fiscal year 2074/75. Under this plan, gas cylinders and stoves were distributed to every family in the municipality, resulting in Maulapur becoming a smoke-free municipality.

Preventing female feticide, which has deep roots in Madhesh, and empowering women have been Rina Kumari's main priorities. To boost morale in education, bicycles have been distributed to all female students studying in grades 8 to 12 in community schools within the municipality since 2074.

Sanitary pads are distributed regularly. To increase girls' access to technical education, studies in Amin and Civil Engineering are completely free for female students at the technical college operating within the municipality.

Furthermore, 30,000 rupees are provided to daughters as a blessing during their weddings. Since 2074, the municipality has been providing 30,000 rupees as a 'blessing' for every daughter's wedding. The tradition of Mayor Sah personally attending every wedding ceremony to hand over a check of 30,000 rupees with her blessings has sent a significant social message.

'We have placed special emphasis on education for the empowerment of daughters and plans to end female feticide. We are distributing bicycles to daughters from grades 8 to 12,' adds Mayor Rina Kumari. 'I personally go to give blessings along with 30,000 rupees at a daughter's wedding. Technical education is also free for girls.'

Under her leadership, significant progress has been made in the development of physical infrastructure, education, health, and road structures. When she was elected, only three out of the 13 community schools in Maulapur Municipality—Pathara, Budharam, and Sonaniya—offered secondary level education. That number has now increased to six. Under Mayor Rina Kumari's leadership, four schools have been upgraded to the secondary level.

The physical infrastructure of the schools has been extensively expanded. Students who were previously forced to sit on sacks on the floor now study at desks and benches in classrooms. 150 classrooms have been built across 13 community schools. Adequate desks, benches, furniture, and IT-friendly infrastructure have also been organized.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the municipality has prioritized quality education. English-medium instruction has been implemented from grade 1 in six community schools, leading to a qualitative transformation in the standard of community education.

'When I was elected, the state of education was pathetic. Today, there are six community schools. All have adequate physical infrastructure. By starting English-medium instruction from grade 1, we are moving in the direction of quality education,' said Mayor Rina Kumari.

From road infrastructure to health, housing, and social services, Maulapur Municipality has embarked on a journey of comprehensive change. Almost all roads within the municipality have been blacktopped or paved with PCC. Plans such as electrification in agriculture, construction of agricultural roads, and the installation of boring wells in four bighas of land have made life easier for farmers.

Maulapur has also made significant strides in health services. A modern birthing center has been built in the central part of wards 3, 4, and 5. Regular services from an MBBS doctor are available here. For this reason, 2-3 women from neighboring municipalities also come here for maternity services daily. Ambulance service has been made free for women giving birth within the municipality, providing great relief to rural health services.

'I have done what I could in health services. A birthing center is in operation, and free ambulance service is available throughout the municipality,' she says.

Maulapur Municipality is also seen to be ahead in housing and sustainable management work targeting marginalized communities, Dalits, the poor, and the landless. Land was purchased in Mirjapur of Ward No. 2, and houses were built and managed for 25 landless families. Land has been purchased for the construction of 18 additional houses this year.

Similarly, Mayor Rina Kumari stated that an ambitious plan has been moved forward to build 50 housing units at a cost of 65 million rupees by purchasing two bighas of land in wards 8 and 9. These buildings will have all basic facilities including toilets and drinking water along with housing.

'The condition of the poor and landless was not good. We are moving in the direction of organizing everyone with housing by making a plan,' she says.

Not only that, but Maulapur Municipality has been declared completely tax-free. No tax is charged for any service including land revenue, house construction, registration, and recommendations. Exemptions have been given to take sand from the river for building one's own house, and the municipality has been covering even drinking water and minimum electricity charges.

'In many municipalities, the public is troubled by taxes. But we have made a completely tax-free municipality. The public does not have to pay any taxes,' she says.