Out of 28 positions advertised for, women candidates succeeded in half the positions through open competition and reservations.

The entry of women officers in such large number has changed the face of FAS, especially as the service had very few women staff in the past.

Some of the officers who have joined FAS left lucrative careers in private sector to join the government service. Dr Illa Mainali, left the highly respected profession in medicine, to join FAS.

This is the first time a medical doctor has left her/his profession to join civil service (apart from the Health Service).

There were only half-dozen women officers in the entire history of Nepal's FAS. Mina Rokka joined FAS as the first women officer some 55 years ago. Three years later Bindeshwari Shah joined the FAS. She later got promoted to the post of joint-secretary and also became Nepalese ambassador to India.

At present, joint secretary Sewa Adhikari is the women officer at highest level in FAS. nepalnews.com