As a measure to curb violence against women, the government has initiated a process to create 1, 035 more vacancies for women in the Nepal Police, local media reported on Tuesday.

Officials said an Office and Management survey for the recruitment has already been finalized and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

"The recruitment process will begin once approval from the finance ministry comes," a senior official at the Home Ministry was quoted by Republica daily as saying.

Currently, there are 3,457 women personnel in the Nepal Police which has a total strength of 60,130.

Concluding that poor representation of women in the police force was one of the reasons behind violence against them, a committee headed by the chief secretary last year recommended the recruitment of some 2,200 additional women personnel. However, the plan could not materialize as the MoF did not give its nod.

Recruiting additional women personnel is one of the components of the Home Administration Strengthening Plan unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijaya Gachchhadar. "We are hopeful the proposal will get MoF nod this time," said a senior official at the Home Ministry.

Recruitment of women in government security agencies including the police was nominal until the political change of 2006. Representation of women in security agencies increased considerably after the government adopted a policy of reservations for women in the recruitment process, amid calls by women's interest groups for at least 33 percent women's participation in all state structures.