Bidya Devi Bhandari is leaving more vices than virtues in her legacy as Nepal’s president

When Bidya Devi Bhandari was elected the president of Nepal , people in and outside Nepal saw a sign of progress. For the first time in its history, Nepal had appointed a female head of state, and all, especially women, were hopeful about what this meant for them .

The President Women Upliftment Programme, initiated by Bhandari, did some good in terms of empowering women through social and economic means. The programme also focussed on increasing access to education, health and social services, eliminating the trafficking of women and girls, and ending social malpractices and gender-based violence. This programme has been a significant aspect of her tenure.