New Nepal, inclusive Nepal: Inclusive bill may face PSC oppn
- ‘Bahuns, Chhetris cannot be categorised as others’
The much-talked about inclusive bill continues to face hiccups. After senior bureaucrats, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is likely to oppose some provisions incorporated in the bill already okayed by a Cabinet committee.
Among others, the categorisation of Brahmins and Chhetris as “others” is under scrutiny. The bill doesn’t clearly mention as to whom it qualifies with the term “backward groups”, to whom it aims to guarantee 48 percent reservation in government jobs, said a senior PSC official on condition of anonymity.
The official said Brahmins and Chhetris cannot be categorised as “others” and the government should clarify as to who constitutes Dalits and Madhesis. The PSC recommendation would be along those lines, he said. The bill, he stated, should have a clear strategy on uplifting marginalised groups such as Rautes. “One cannot classify Newar and Raute under the same category.”
Asked how the PSC would treat the bill, the official clarified that the commission is consulting now. “However, the bill will see some changes following our recommendations,” the official expressed confidence.
The government would table the bill in the parliament only after inputs from the PSC. The Bill Committee of the Cabinet on January 10 had given nod to the bill. However, serious differences had surfaced between senior bureaucrats and Minister for Law and Justice Brijesh Gupta, especially over the categorisation of Brahmins and Chhetris as “others”. Differences also persisted on the categorisation of 59 ethnic groups. Some bureaucrats had submitted their reservation in writing.
Aftermath of protests, the committee had formed a taskforce under Secretary of Prime Minister Office Trilochan Upreti to sort out technical details. The bill has a provision of a “negative list” which the government could publish in the Gazette, he said.
Upreti also said the reservation in the government service will only be at the entry level. Among other things, the bill states that those working in community or government-run schools and who receive monetary support from other sources, will not be eligible for reservation and the number of women in security forces will remain intact.
Posted on: 2012-01-19 07:51
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