Kathmandu, May 24

Lawmakers of the House of Representatives demanded for a provision of reservation quotas for women within each reservation cluster.

During a discussion on Section 9 of the Federal Civil Servant Bill in the parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, most lawmakers said there should be reservation quotas for women within different reservation clusters. Ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker Aman Lal Modi said there should be proportional inclusion of women within different clusters.

Prevalent Civil Servant Act has six clusters: women (33 per cent), Adiwasi/Janajatis (27 per cent), Madhesis (22 per cent), Dalits (nine per cent), differently abled (five per cent) and backward areas (four per cent). However, the proposed bill has eight clusters: women, Adiwasis/Janajatis, Madhesis, Dalits, disabled, backward areas, Tharus and Muslims. Forty-five per cent of berths has been reserved for these eight clusters.

The proposed bill has added two more clusters, Tharus and Muslims, enabling people from these communities to fight from  Madhesis and Adiwasis/Janajatis clusters as well. Earlier, people from Tharu and Muslim communities had to compete from Adiwasi/Janajati cluster. Introduction of two more clusters has caused a reduction in the percentage of quotas allocated for clusters other than women.

According to the proposed bill, the reservation quotas are women (33 per cent), Adiwasi/Janajati (24 per cent), Madhesi (20 per cent), Dalit (9 per cent), differently able (4 per cent), backward area (4 per cent), Tharu (4 per cent) and Muslim (3 per cent). The backward districts have been identified as Accham, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Jumla, Dolpa, Bajhang, Bajura, Mugu and Manang.

Another NCP lawmaker Ram Kumari Jhakri said a provision of reservation for woman with different clusters will ensure women’s participation in civil service. “Otherwise, only men would take advantage of reservation clusters,” she added.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Laxmi Pariyar criticised the government saying that the bill had limited reservation quotas for Dalits.

NCP lawmaker Anjana Bisanke blamed the government for including reservation clusters as namesake only. “The reservation should be used properly. It is not only for a show but for implementation,” she said.

Another NCP lawmaker Aash Kumari BK said the bill has allocated only 9 per cent reservation to Dalit group whereas the Dalit population of Nepal is 13 per cent. “Quota reservation should be done in proportion to the population of the country,” she added.