KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli appointed former Deputy Speaker Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe to the post of the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on Monday.
A cabinet meeting took place to welcome Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe after she assumed office as Law Minister. Welcoming newly elected Minister Tumbahamphe, Prime Minister Oli cracked a humor saying, “I appointed a cent percent woman minister.”
The meeting went into the laughter that echoed the entire hall. Shiva Maya was the third woman appointed by Oli in the eighth reformation of his cabinet.
The Constitution has envisaged 33 percent of women’s participation in every organ of the state. Beside Shiva Maya, Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Padma Kumari Aryal and Minister for Water Supply Bina Magar are in the Oli’s cabinet.
In the 21-member cabinet, there are 24 ministers including three state ministers. Of them only, three are women ministers. Seven women must represent the cabinet to make up 33 percent of women’s participation as envisaged by the Constitution. The women’s participation in the cabinet is only 14.28 percent, currently.
Oli raised this issue in a humorous manner at a time when there have been criticisms that the cabinet is not inclusive. It can be noted that central committee, standing committee and secretariat do not have 33 percent women’s participation.
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