A low turnout of female applicants has characterised ‘Myadi’ police or temporary police recruitment exercise despite efforts from the Election Commission (EC) to hire at least 50 percent women for the local level elections. Of the total 179,486 applications, women account for only 14 percent or 24,605.

The government on March 24 had opened vacancies for 75,000 temporary police, inviting applications from people between the age group of 18 and 54 years for deployment during the local level election scheduled for May 14. 

With the application deadline ending on Friday, the Nepal Police Headquarters started reviewing the applications on Saturday. The names of successful candidates will be announced on April 4 and they will put through a 13-day training beginning on April 7. “We’re currently reveiwing the applications,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Sarbendra Khanal, spokesperson for the Nepal Police. These temporary police, who will work for 55 days, will get a monthly salary of Rs17,230 and other allowances.

According to the Nepal Police data, the far-western region has the highest number of applicants at 46,431 of which 6,389 are females. The mid-western region has the second highest applicants at 44,109, but again with a low women participation of 12 percent. 

The highest male-female disparity in applications is seen in the eastern region, where only 11 percent of the applicants are females. Expectedly, at 25 percent Kathmandu Valley has the highest female participation.

With the low number of applications from women, the Election Commission has asked the Home Ministry to give priority to women applicants. 

“We’ve asked the Home Ministry to accord top priority to women applicants while recruiting the temporary police,” said Election Commissioner Ila Sharma. 

Experts believe that the social stigma suggesting that women are feeble and cannot be part of security system keeps women away from applying for the job. 

“Our society does not promote women into security system because of fear of abuse and harassment within the system. The security agencies have also failed to convince the society that women are safe in their system,” said Dr Indra Adhikari, a security expert. 

“Even during the normal times very few women apply for various positions at security agencies. As this is a temporary job, many aspiring women might not be interested.” The Home Ministry has stated that 226,000 security personnel from Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Army and temporary police will be mobilised during the local level elections. According to the election security plan, the Nepal Police will hold the command inside the polling stations, with the APF providing the backup security. The Army will be mobilised on the peripheral areas of the polling stations and the temporary police will arrange the voters in queues.

A total of 44,724 temporary police personnel were deployed during the second CA elections in 2013.

APPLICANTION IN NUMBERS

    Total        Male    Female    Male%    Female%

Eastern    18,996    11%    16,955    2,041    89    11

Central    34,983    19%    29,379    5,604    84    16

Western    27,857    16%    24,201    3,656    87    13

Mid-Western    44, 109    25%    38,939    5,170    88    12

Far-Western    46,431    26%    40,042    6,389    86    14

Valley    7,110    4%    5,365    1,745    75    25

    179,486    100%    154,881    24,605    86    14

2 temp cop job aspirants die

BANKE/MORANG: Two men died on Saturday while undergoing physical test for the job of temporary police being hired for local level elections at separate venues. 

Tod Bahadur Tharu, 29, of Baijapur died after he ran 100 metres as part of the physical test he had to undergo. DSP Saroj Paudel said Tharu, who had collapsed after running the 100-metre distance, was rushed to Bheri Zonal Hospital in Nepalgunj where he died while being treated. Selection process is underway across the country. 

In Biratnagar, Tulasi Rajbhandari, 27, of Biratnagar-16 fell during the run physical test. He was immediately rushed to Koshi Zonal Hospital but died during treatment, said DSP Yogendra Singh Thapa. (PR)