Of the total 92,753 personnel, the number of women is merely 1,100. According to Nepal Army´s data prepared last year, there are around 825 women in the infantry, of which only 150 are officers.[break]
"The current structure of the national army indicates that the country won´t get a woman army chief at least in the next 30 years," said NA Spokesperson Ramindra Chhetri.
Though the NA has the provision of 20 percent reservation for women, they have a negligible presence.
The NA plans to have 11 percent representation of women in the establishment within the next 10 years. NA recruited women for technical posts since 1965 but there are only around 300 female technical staffers in the establishment.
"Women are dedicated and are an important asset of our institution," said Chhetri. He also said that the trend of women willing to join the NA is on the rise.
Of the total seats in the NA, 55 per cent is for open competition and the remaining 45 percent is reserved for women, Madhesis, Dalits, and backward communities.
"I always wanted to become a soldier. I felt proud when I joined this prestigious institution," said a lady army officer.
"There were no separate accommodation arrangements for women staffers previously but the situation has changed now," said an army officer preferring anonymity, adding, "I think the NA is doing fairly well. Women doctors have been serving the army for quite some time and they have never faced problems."
Women NA staffers were first sent to Lebanon in 2056. Similarly, Radha Shah and Gita Basnet, who were doctors, held the position of brigadier general, the highest for women in the establishment.
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