KATHMANDU, March 28: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has appointed five women to his 15-member cabinet, a composition that reflects partial inclusion as the new government begins outlining its priorities.
The five ministers – Sobita Gautam, Sita Badi, Nisha Mehta, Geeta Chaudhary and Pratibha Rawal – were sworn in by President Ram Chandra Paudel at Shital Niwas on Friday.
Their appointments come as part of the broader cabinet formation by the Rastriya Swatantra Party-led government, which has moved swiftly to take office and begin decision-making.
Representation and portfolios
Among the newly appointed ministers, Gautam has been appointed Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Badi has taken charge of the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, while Chaudhary has been assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD).
Similarly, Mehta will lead the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) alongside Water Supply, and Rawal has been entrusted with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA), along with additional responsibility for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation.
The inclusion of women across multiple ministries, including law, health and agriculture, reflects a broader representation within the cabinet, though the effectiveness of their roles will depend on policy execution in the coming days.
From margins to ministry
Among the five, Sita Badi’s appointment stands out as a historic milestone. She has become Nepal’s first minister from the Badi community-one of the most marginalized groups in the country.
New ministers to take oath of office and secrecy at 5 PM
Visibly emotional upon assuming office, Badi said, “I never thought I would end up here,” wiping tears as she addressed the moment.
Her rise from a background marked by caste-based discrimination and poverty to a ministerial position reflects a significant social shift. Having worked in grassroots initiatives focused on women’s empowerment, Badi said she now aims to push for broader, result-oriented change.
She has long been involved in programs promoting economic independence for women, particularly through skill-based training such as sewing and tailoring. “Now I will be responsible and active in transforming society,” she said.
Early reform signal from law ministry
Soon after assuming office at Singha Durbar, Law Minister Sobita Gautam signaled one of the government’s early policy priorities-legal reform to ensure faster justice delivery, particularly in cases of sexual violence.
Gautam said amendments would be introduced in key laws, including the National Criminal Procedure Code 2074, the Criminal Offense and Punishment Determination and Implementation Act 2074, and the National Civil Code 2074, among others.
The proposed reforms aim to identify legal bottlenecks and ensure quicker access to justice for victims of sexual and gender-based violence-an issue that has long drawn public concern.
Health ministry sees rare female leadership
The appointment of Nisha Mehta as Minister for Health and Population also carries historical significance. She is only the third woman to hold full ministerial responsibility for the health portfolio in Nepal.
With a background in nursing and academia, Mehta brings professional experience to the role. She has previously worked as an associate professor and has been involved in the health sector through both institutional and private practice.
Her appointment is also seen as a step toward broader inclusion, representing both women and the Madhesi community in a key public service ministry.
Steering Nepal’s fields
Geeta Chaudhary, from Shuklaphanta Municipality-4 in Kanchanpur, has assumed office as Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development and Forests and Environment, taking on a portfolio central to Nepal’s agrarian economy.
Chaudhary, 33, has a background in law, holding a master's degree, and brings a focus on institutional accountability and policy implementation to her new role.
“In Nepal, agriculture engages half of the workforce and contributes around 25 percent to the GDP. Yet only a fraction of the budget is allocated to this sector,” she said. “I will prioritize practical, results-oriented initiatives while coordinating with the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to ensure our first decisions reflect the country’s urgent needs.”
From newsroom to Singha Durbar
Pratibha Rawal, 32, from Aithpur, Bhimdatta Municipality-6, Kanchanpur, has been appointed Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, also overseeing Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation. A proportional representative candidate from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rawal’s path to Singha Durbar reflects a shift from journalism to policymaking.
Before entering politics, Rawal spent nearly a decade in journalism, working at Republica, South Asia Check, and eventually Galaxy 4K Television. “As a producer, I invited policymakers to the studio and secured commitments on public issues, but many remained unfulfilled. I realized that questioning from outside is not enough; one must reach the place where policies are made,” she said.
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