Percentage Of Women Candidates Recommended To Top PSU Posts Abysmally Low: Panel

Women in PSUs: A parliamentary panel has observed that the percentage of women at top posts in public sector undertakings (PSUs) is "abysmally low," directing the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) to conduct research into the reasons for this state of affairs.

The PSEB has been constituted to advise the centre on top hires in the Central Public Sector Enterprises. As per the report presented in parliament in March, the percentage of female appointments to top posts has dropped from  7.69 per cent in 2017 to 2.75 per cent in 2019 and 6.89 per cent in 2020.

Observations for correction were made by the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice in its 106th report on Demands for Grants (2021-22) of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, as per the Press Trust of India.

"The Committee recommends PESB to carry out an in-depth study and examine whether this gender gap is due to scarcity of competent women aspirants or glass ceiling effect. The Committee is of the considered opinion that there is a need to build an equitable work place for women and PESB must make an endeavour in this regard," it was noted.

Women In PSUs Top Posts: What Do The Low Numbers Signify?

As per reports, the overall percentage of women employees in PSUs has also shrunk. A survey by the Department of Public Services (DPE) revealed that female staff at PSUs decreased to 8.5 percent in 2019, from 8.9 percent in 2018 and 10.2 percent in 2017.

“While this is true that the percentage of women is low in leadership positions, however, there are enough qualified, experienced, senior women in corporate India to sit on the boards of the companies," Shalini Kamath, Founder-CEO of SK Associates told SheThePeople last year when PSUs were directed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to appoint at least one woman on their director boards.