With two new promotions, eight women have climbed the bureaucratic ladder to become secretaries in Nepal’s civil service. This is a significant achievement in a bureaucracy that for long has been male-dominated. Women now make up 29.2 percent of the total civil service workforce, which is the highest we have ever seen. Out of 85,529 government employees, 41,563 work at the federal level, 32,808 at the local level, and 11,138 at the provincial level. Notably, the majority of women remain in administrative roles, with 42.19 percent currently serving in various capacities. In the federal parliament, it is a mere 0.62 percent. In economic planning and statistics, the number stands at 0.70 percent. Foreign affairs, which is a very important sector as it is tied with our national prestige and power, has witnessed only 0.71 percent women employees. A similar scenario persists in other sectors, which reflect the identical cases: 15.86 percent in engineering, 2.93 percent in agriculture, 11.45 percent in the judiciary, 1.19 percent in auditing, 4.83 percent in forestry, 5.43 percent in miscellaneous services, 2.05 percent in education, and 12.03 percent in health services. Although the constitution has guaranteed at least 33 percent women’s representation in all decision-making bodies—from the federal to the provincial level, it is unfortunate that a large number of Nepali women are still absent from many key policy-making and decision-making bodies.
The number of women facing discrimination and existing social attitudes speak volumes about how women are treated in our society. In many parts of Nepal, women are still banished to cowsheds during menstruation. This shows society continues to treat women as unfit, unclean, and unequal. Yet despite several of such obstacles, some women have pushed through. Nirmala Adhikari Bhattarai, recently recommended for the post of secretary by the Judicial Service Commission, currently serves as acting secretary at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. She has worked for years in politically sensitive positions without drawing controversy. Another new face at the secretary level is Indira Dahal Bhattarai, serving at the Office of the Prime Minister and now headed to the Law Commission. Their rise is a reminder that women have not sought any favor but lawfully achieved a space to lead and make decisions as top bureaucrats of their respective ministries and institutions.
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While some women have made impressive progress in our society, many have still been excluded from positions of influence, which has, without doubt, weakened the state itself. Given the number of women, almost half of the total population of the nation, they rightfully deserve to have important roles where they can take significant decisions to impact the lives of their own people. For women of our nation, they deserve impartial attitudes from society. It is also true that many women have worked hard to gain top positions. One such example is former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, who has epitomized the progress a Nepali woman can make if provided with opportunities by reaching the topmost place: the head of the state. As our women folks, such as the eight female secretaries, move upward in bureaucracy, their very presence in such places makes the system stronger. Many more women should therefore be allowed to lead in several sectors of society, which will not only make our nation a composite society but also enable our women to prove their worth just like their male counterparts.
