Gender Gap Issue: Why women candidate for top posts in PSUs is extremely low

New Delhi: The parliamentary committee recently asked the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), to carry out an in-depth study and examine if this gender gap is due to scarcity of competent women aspirants or the glass ceiling effect. 

As seeing the less percentage of the women candidates to top managerial posts in public sector undertakings, the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has been set up with the objective of evolving a sound managerial policy for Central Public Sector Enterprises and, in particular, to advise the government on appointments to their top management posts.

According to a committee chaired in the parliament states that the posts of the chairperson and one member in PSEB are currently vacant, there are only two members. PSEB shall consist of one part-time or full-time chairperson and three full-time members.

"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 workplace for women and PESB must make an endeavour in this regard," it said.

According to the report of 2016, the percentage of the women candidates recommended by PESB was 2.4 percent, 7.69 percent in 2017, 3.8 percent in 2018, 2.75 percent in 2019, and 6.89 percent in 2020.

It is also mentioned that, "The Committee recommends PESB to furnish the details of PSUs coming under its purview where top managerial posts are lying vacant. PESB may also indicate against each vacancy, whether the vacancy is due to lapse on the part of concerned PSU in informing the PESB about likely vacancies or due to delay on the part of PESB in advertising vacancies and holding selection committee meetings. PESB may furnish a status note on this in three month's time."

(With PTI inputs)

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