This is one area where I laud the Maoists. Many reports confirm that the Maoists have furthered womens' cause in rural Nepal. I also hear that from now on 33% of the seats in government job openings will be reserved for women, including seats on the Constitutional Assembly ( I don't know how that will work, does that mean that men will be barred from competing in some constituencies?).

Historically, I have maintained that Hindu culture has been against the sentiment of women, but now I guess some progress is being made (at least it sounds like)