In 5 yrs, Nepal Police to have 10pc women

KATHMANDU, AUG 26 -
In a concerted effort to increase female participation in Nepal Police, women are expected to constitute at least 10 percent of the force by 2018.

At present, women make just over 5 percent of the total police strength of 67,181.

Police spokesperson DIG Nawa Raj Silwal said policewomen have always proved their worth in maintaining law and order. “While it’s important to ensure that no discrimination is made between male and female candidates during recruitment, we should also realise that the institution won’t take a complete shape unless competent women are hired,” he said. “There are a number of areas in a society like ours where male personnel cannot intervene in the process of maintaining order.”

Although the country adopted an inclusive policy in 1977, it is only in recent years that social inclusion is practised in state mechanisms.

The Nepal Police adopted a gender policy in 2012, to create a gender-friendly work environment in the institution. The policy is aimed at “preventing workplace violence against women within the organisation through sensitisation, promotion of women-friendly work environment as well as improvement in the right kind of physical infrastructure”. As per the policy, female personnel will be provided facilities and services at par with those given to their counterparts in other government agencies. “Given our new policies that are largely gender friendly, female participation has increased in recent recruitments to various ranks,” said DIG Silwal. Recruitments for 7,298 vacancies—Inspector (138), Assistant Sub-inspector (1,060) and personnel (6,100)—are under way. Eighty two of the 213 women who applied for Inspector have passed physical tests and are undergoing other stages of recruitment. Likewise, 1,673 women have applied for ASI while the number of female aspirants for personnel posts is 3,214. “Compared to previous years, the participation is overwhelming,” DIG Silwal said, terming the turnout as a positive indicator of the reputation of police in society. The Nepal Police has reserved 20 percent of the new seats for women.

Entry of women into the police force dates back to 1951. Chaita Maya Dangol was the first woman to join the force. She retired as Assistant Inspector after 31 years of service. In 1968, two dozen women were recruited for traffic management. Special women police company (Mahila Gulma) and traffic women company (Mahila Traffic Gulma) were established in 1986 and 1995, respectively.

Current women workforce

Rank                                                    Number

Deputy Inspector General of Police    2

Senior Superintendent of Police    5

Superintendent of Police    3

Deputy Superintendent of Police    19

Inspector of Police    51

Sub Inspector of Police    117

Assistant Sub Inspector of Police    199

Police Head Constable    546

Police Constable    2507

Police Followers    123

Total    3572

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