Gender Equity Unaddressed

The upcoming amendment in the Civil Service Act will not be as gender sensitive enough as expected, said a government official on Wednesday.

Speaking at an interaction program on “Reservation, Positive Discrimination and Amendment of Civil Service Act” Shyam Sundar Sharma, joint secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, said, “Of course, the amendment will be progressive. However, we can’t be sure that it would ensure the inclusion of a large enough number of women in civil service.”

Dr. Chandra Bhadra, women's rights activist, said that affirmative actions like reservation, positive discrimination, capacity building, lateral entry, enabling environment and violence-free workplace, were a must to ensure women's participation in civil service.

"Since women's representation in civil service, policy and decision-making position is fundamental to achieving gender equitable development, affirmative action is needed for the inclusion, retention and promotion of women in civil service, "Bhadra said.

Shyam Mainali, joint secretary at the Ministry of Local Development, said that the upcoming amendment includes the theory of positive discrimination.

Indu Pant, national program manager of Mainstreaming Gender Equity Program, said that the number of women in civil service was decreasing due to the lack of women-friendly act.