KATHMANDU, MARCH 6

While the government today decided to promote Dr Bikas Devkota to Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population following a meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 5, lawmakers and netizens have accused the health minister of discrimination and favouring Devkota.

According to Dr Prakash Budhathoki, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Devkota assumed his office as ministry secretary today.

However, the appointment of Devkota has raised concerns about discrimination, as two other candidates were in queue for promotion to the position but were passed over due to gender and region, according to lawmakers and netizens.

According to reports, the recommendation committee, led by the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, had recommended the names of Dr Sangita Mishra as the first option for the position of Secretary, Dr Bikash Devkota as the second, and Dr Tanka Barakoti as the third.

Speaking in the parliament today, legislator Amresh Kumar Singh accused Health Minister Pradip Paudel of discrimination and demanded his resignation immediately. He asked, 'What was the fault of Sangeeta Mishra, whose promotion was stopped by Health Minister Pradip Paudel? Is it a crime to be a woman, or to be Madhesi?,' he asked. 'Despite meeting all the merits, Minister Paudel intentionally politicised the promotion of Sangeeta Mishra,' he argued.

Meanwhile, netizens have echoed lawmaker Singh's questions, describing Dr Devkota's promotion over Dr Mishra as blatant discrimination and oppression against women.

'If the government truly believes in inclusion, equal opportunity, and justice, why was Dr Sangeeta Mishra wronged and discriminated against ?' asked Hira Devi Waiba in her post. 'Do Madhesi women never get to lead decision-making processes and positions?'

'This decision is clear evidence of racial discrimination, which we must all oppose in unison. Be prepared to fight for justice,' her post states.

'Injustice to Dr Sangeeta Mishra is unacceptable!' reads Saroj Ray's Facebook post. 'Dr Mishra is ranked first on the Public Service Commission's recommendation list for health secretary. It is reprehensible that the second candidate bypassing the first is appointed by the government. This is not only a personal injustice; it is the continuation of institutional discrimination against the Madheshi community and women.'

Dr. Mishra, according to him, is no ordinary medical professional; she is a skilled, experienced, and courageous health worker from Nepal who has led several health-related emergencies.

'Dr. Sangeeta Mishra was not promoted to the post of Secretary, despite being the most senior and the first candidate recommended by the Public Service Commission for this position,' reads Brikhesh Chandra Lal's post. 'This is extreme discrimination and the height of a discriminatory mentality! This is condemnable!! How long will we tolerate this?'

Meanwhile, Health Minister Pradip Paudel denied that the ministry played any role in the decision.

'The Cabinet made the decision. The ministry is only a member there, so it had no role in appointing the secretary,' he told THT.

When asked about the netizens who have expressed their concerns on various platforms on the appointment of the secretary, he responded, 'People are doing that with ill-intentions and to mislead them.'

Speaking to THT, Dr Sangeeta Mishra shared that Minister Pradeep Poudel had repeatedly wronged her. She claimed that the government did not give her appropriate responsibility despite being senior to Dr Devkota and Dr Barakoti.

'He (Minister Paudel) removed me from the position of director general of the Department of Health Services, did not give me any work, did not invite me to any meeting, and did not put me on any committee,' she alleged Health Minister Paudel, adding, 'He is anti-Madhesi.'

'I had no trouble working with a number of ministers from various parties. However, Minister Paudel seems to have had issues with me, and Minister Paudel's bigotry ruined my career. His stubbornness ended a woman's career,' Dr Mishra added.