Samir Ghimire (Yagya Raj Sharma), born on June 15, 1951 is a human rights activist from Nepal who has been at the forefront fighting for the causes of disadvantaged people and their civic organizations to achieve sustainable and equitable development. As a grassroots activist, he has worked on various sectors, primarily on Gender equity, conflict mediation and deepening democracy.
Mr. Ghimire formally took the membership of Nepal’s leading political party, Nepali Congress in 1970. He took the membership from the martyr, Mr. Saroj Prasad Koirala in Madhubani, India as the democratic political parties were banned in Nepal then. Since then, he has actively participated in Nepal’s democratic movements.
Since 1970 to 1990, he spent more than eight years in prison at different times fighting to establish democracy in Nepal. In 2013, he contested an election for the constituent assembly as an independent candidate and secured 6078 votes, which was second largest vote as an independent candidate in Nepal.
Democracy was reinstated in Nepal in 1990. In 1992, he founded Dhanusha Sewa Samiti (DSS). DSS empowers the disadvantaged people and their civic organizations to achieve sustainable and equitable development. In the last 25 years, he facilitated the formation of more than 100 women saving and credit groups, 25 farmers’ groups, 30 child clubs, Dalit and indigenous groups.
He also facilitated the formation of Women’s Rights Forum (WRF) in 2007 at the village level, which has expanded from the district to the national forum. WRF fights for the opportunity and dignity of women. He also helped formed the Land Rights Forum in 2005 for the landless people in Dhanusha district which has also expanded to a national forum. LRF is a national forum that seeks justice for the landless people. He has worked in the multiple areas: food security, gender equity, livelihood/ income generation, education, water & sanitation and has led various campaigns to restore the rights and dignity of common men and women of Nepal.
The political context of Nepal changed since 2006. Political parties and social movements were divided over contentious issues of constitution making process. Though the constitution was drafted and Nepal has moved to institutionalize the federal system, there is a possibility of various conflicts emerging among communities, caste, ethnicities and political parties over the opportunities and natural resources.
To address the divide between caste, communities and ethnic groups, Mr. Sameer initiated the regional dialogue forum as a credible process for mediation, facilitation, and dialogue among the political parties’ and civil society groups to resolve political standoffs, thaw stalemates and promote peaceful engagement.
Local people and institutions have recognized Ghimire’s contribution through various local awards.
This includes: