Widows Protest Marriage Incentive

Reuters ^ | Aug 10, 2009

[anymouse]

About 200 women marched through the Nepali capital Monday to denounce a government scheme to pay cash incentives to men for marrying widows, witnesses said.

Nepal's center-left coalition announced a plan last month to pay men the equivalent of $650 for marrying widows, angering the widows.

Monday, women shouting slogans such as "You can't sell your mother," and "We don't want government dowries," marched toward a government complex that houses the prime minister's office.

(snip)

But Neupane said it would only add to their woes as men would marry widows for money and later abandon them. Widows, she said, should instead be given jobs, better health care and education.

[anymouse]

A different kind of "stimulus package. Note the unintended consequences of government handing out money and expectation of socialist programs by even those that advocate against this. This is our future if we let Zero and the Democrats force more socialism on us.

[colorado tanker]

$650 is a lot more than an average Nepali makes in a year. The women have a legitimate fear men will take advantage of them to get that much money.

[Emmett McCarthy]

I’ll marry one a week myself. But just for the money, not the other “stimulus”.

[colorado tanker]

LOL!

That would be the recommended program. Life is hard for a poor Nepali and it can age a woman fast. If you're poor by Nepal standards, you're really poor.

[Emmett McCarthy]

Give them computers. Then they can e-mail American men and get some of the big bucks the fools are sending to Nigeria already.

[colorado tanker]

I love the idea!

"Dear Rich American: I am the Minister of the Department of American Money in the Government of Nepal. I need your help transferring $1 Billion of which I will pay you 1% for your help. I just need you to send me $50,000 to tide me over until you can get my billion transferred and keep your money."

Response: "I am honored to help the people of Nepal. As you know, we have hit the "reset button" on our relationship. We are willing to dialog with you and have abandoned the unilateralism of the evil Bush. Is a wire transfer OK? Say, next time you're in America, come by for a beer." Signed, Barack Obama.