There has been a growing trend among the security bodies in Nepal to recruit female personnel over the years. Until a few decades back, the security bodies - Nepal Police, Nepali Army (NA) and Armed Police Force (AFP) - had the dominance of male employees at different echelons. As more women have proven their mettle in working with security agencies, the government has revised laws to create gender equality in the workforce. Though there is still a parochial thinking that women are not fit for security bodies, they are capable of handling conflicts and other problems in an effective manner. They are also considered more honest and dutiful as compared to males. In the Katmandu Valley, many traffic policewomen are now seen managing the arduous road traffic well. And some other female soldiers have been managing the dead bodies of COVID-19 victims at Aryaghat. This clearly shows that they are capable of carrying out their responsibilities like their male counterparts.

According to a news report carried by this daily on Sunday, the presence of female personnel in Nepal Police accounts for about 8.5 per cent of the total number of its workforce. Nepal Police started recruiting women only from 1951. Chaita Maya Dangol was the first policewoman. She joined the police service as constable in 1951 and got retirement as Assistant Sub Inspector in 1982. The number of women employees at the APF and the NA stands at 12 per cent and 4.5 per cent, respectively. Another interesting aspect is that women personnel are now gradually holding top positions in security bodies despite their small size in the workforce. At present, Nepal Police alone possesses seven female Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), eight Superintendent of Police (SPs), 27 Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSPs), and 111 Inspectors.

Durga Thapa, a doctor from technical service (health), had created history by becoming the first female Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Nepal Police some two years back. Thapa was succeeded by Dr. Asha Singh, who now serves as the medical director of Nepal Police Hospital. Previously, Bimala Thapa and Parbati Thapa had worked as DIGs from the administration service. Some female candidates were recruited as inspectors after 1990 through open competition. Currently working as SSP, Pooja Singha is the only woman to have been appointed as inspector in 1992. Four women - Mira Chaudhary, Kiran Bajracharya, Kiran Rana and Durga Singh Chand - were hired as inspectors in 1994. Chaudhary and Bajracharya were promoted to SSP last year.

The NA has been recruiting female personnel since 1959. But the female workforce started to grow only after 1989. Until 2004, women would be recruited only in the technical services. In 2018, Major Sulochana Poudel made history by passing the Army Command and Staff College (ACSC) course, which is essential to claim higher command posts in the army. There are now 5,989 women personnel in NA, including 419 women officers from legal, technical, clerk and other divisions. The number of female personnel taking part in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission is also increasing. Similarly, the APF, the country's youngest security organisation, has some 2,922 female personnel.