NIDWAN comprises a team of executive members and staff to execute the regular work through the secretariat. The staff team is diverse and comes from different indigenous communities and backgrounds with their discrete expertise. Their work and posts are designated per their thematic fields like gender, disability, climate change, human rights, communication, and others. With each member’s and staff’s contribution, we share our common and collective strength to execute our goals.
Pratima Gurung
President
Pratima Gurung is an academic activist and a faculty member at Padmakanya College, a single women’s college in Nepal since 2004. She also contributes as an expert on the Disability National Direction Committee formed by the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen, Nepal Government. Ms Gurung is currently General Secretary of Indigenous Peoples with Disabilities Global Network.
Ganga Chhantyal
Vice-President
Ganga Chhantyal is founding member of NIDWAN. She is also a member of the National Federation of Disabled Nepal—Bagmati Chapter. She is an entrepreneur who believes in financial independence as a key to empowering women. Through her work, she is currently providing jobs to 12 other indigenous women. She is also a member of NIDWAN’s basketball and cultural team, promoting disability inclusion through sports and culture.
Jamuna Tamang
Treasurer
Jamuna Tamang is founding member of NIDWAN. She is a social activist working on protecting and promoting the rights of young indigenous women with disabilities to ensure their equal participation and representation at all levels. She has extensive financial and managerial background in accounting, financial and tax reporting, strategic planning and budgeting, treasury and human resource. She is also interested in climate issues.
NIDWAN's Staff Team
Ram Bahadur Majhi
National Program Coordinator
Ram Bahadur Majhi is a resourceful and dynamic result-oriented social development professional with having Master’s degree in Sociology from Tribhuvan University of Nepal with over 20 years of progressive experience in the development sector, particularly in Governance, GESI, Quality and Inclusive, Child Protection, Human Rights, Enterprise Development /Sustainable Livelihoods, Labor Migration, Integrated Community Development, and Promoting Community Engagement.
Prema Lama Blon
Advocacy and Communication Officer
Prema Lama Blon is an Indigenous woman who is passionate about human rights and holds her Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Kantipur City College. She has worked as a consultant for WaterAid Nepal and as a UN Trainee for UNICEF in Biratnagar. She is excited to examine the role of indigenous knowledge in tackling societal difficulties by integrating indigenous knowledge with an understanding of social structure.
Sabina Ghale
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Sabina Ghale is a young and enthusiastic social work graduate with a strong desire to make a positive difference in society. She is devoted to using the most effective tactics and approaches. The information and experience she has collected throughout the years are treasures that she holds now. She graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from St. Xavier College, affiliated with Kathmandu University.
Ratna Rana Magar
Program Officer, Karnali Province
Ratna Rana Magar has completed her Master’s degree in Humanities. She is a founding member of the Karnali Indigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal (KIDWAN). She has been advocating for gender, indigenous, and disability issues.
Karma Maharjan
Admin and Finance Officer
Karma Maharjan is a senior admin and finance officer who has managed and led NIDWAN’s financial activities since 2020. He has over 22 years of experience working in finance in various NGOs and INGOs.
Susan Manandhar
Finance Assistant
Susan Manandhar holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBS) from Shanker Dev Campus and is currently enrolled at Tribhuwan University for a Master of Social Science with a major in Anthropology. He previously worked for an insurance company and a multifunctional co-operative limited.
Bhawana Majhi
Fellow
Bhawana Majhi is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Dibyabhumi Multiple College, affiliated with Tribhuvan University. Her interests revolve around learning about indigenous knowledge, practices, and the realities of indigenous youth and disabilities.
Dipika Lama
Focal Person, MIDWAN, Madhesh Province
Dipika Lama is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (BBA) from Model Purbanchal College, affiliated with Purbanchal University. She has been actively engaged with young indigenous women with disabled issues.
Phiriya Chaudhary
Focal Person, SIDWAN, Sudhurpachhim Province
Phiriya Chaudhary is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in B.Ed. with a major in Nepali at Shree Punarbash Janata Higher Secondary College. She has been contributing at the community level to aware the indigenous women with disabilities issues.