Women In Civil Service

Nepal's constitution guarantees the equal rights of every citizen irrespective of his/her caste, gender, religion and origin. This embodies the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The national charter stipulates that all citizens are equal before the law and they must not be discriminated against on any ground. It has outlined 31 fundamental rights related to health, education, food, employment and environment, among others. Moreover, there are specific constitutional and legal provisions to ensure the rights of the weaker sections of society, such as women, Dalits, Madhesis and other marginalised groups. The state has taken several affirmative actions so that opportunity and resources are allocated to the populace judiciously. The reservation quota has been instrumental in boosting the presence of marginalised groups in the various organs of the state.

Our statute is revolutionary when it comes to establishing gender equality. Article 18 spells out the special rights of women in the areas of health, education, employment, administration, and property. The legal instruments, such as the Gender Equality Act, the Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Prevention Act, provide women greater say in social, political, economic, family, and cultural spheres. They have made a big leap in national politics, catapulting them to important positions. The constitution has enabled them to call the shots at the grassroots level, with the election of thousands of women to the local bodies.  

One notable area the women have excelled is the civil service, where their participation is growing in terms of quality and quantity over the years, thanks to the reservation policy that stipulates 33 per cent of seats for them. With the amendment to the Civil Service Act in 2007, there has been a steady rise in women's participation in the civil service. In 2008, women constituted just nine per cent of the government workforce. The fresh data shows their representation at 29.5 per cent. Of the total 86,422 civil servants, 25,516 are women. With hard work, confidence and institutional support, women are gradually climbing the leadership rung in public administration. 

According to a news report published in this daily on Sunday, in the latest results of the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) examination for judicial officers, over 80 per cent of candidates selected through open competition are women. Of the 44 candidates selected in the open category, 38 were women, with the top six positions also secured by women. Although more and more women are entering the civil service, various challenges persist in attaining gender parity. Their representation in the civil service is uneven, as women employees form over 40 per cent workforce in the health sector.

They have low presence in parliamentary affairs, foreign service and economic planning. But in engineering and the judiciary services, they have an encouraging presence. Currently, around 442 women are under-secretaries, 59 joint secretaries, and eight secretaries. Women make up over 51 per cent of the total population, but they have to go a long way before leaving an imprint on the crucial decision-making process. However, their low participation in leadership does not mean that they have made scant progress in breaking the glass ceiling. Of course, there are structural barriers, but constitutional and legal provisions, educational attainment, family support and changing social perceptions have helped them rise and shine in the civil service and other professions.