Personnel Policies
A Must For Local Governments

By Mukti Rijal

THE government is talking about the civil service reform for quite a long time. In fact commissions and committees of different hues have been formed to examine and suggest ways about how the reform and reorganisation task could be implemented.

Appropriate

There is no denying the fact that administration should be responsive in a democratic society. But for this civil service structure and system should be functionally appropriate. Moreover, it is now being recognised that administration cannot be a wholly top down operation. If it is to achieve positive impact, people for whom programmes are meant should have control over programming or bureaucracy that administers and executes them.

Following the introduction the Local Self Governance Act 1998, discussions regarding reform in civil service have received more impetus especially considering the fact that the new law provides room for an independent recruitment system of cadres and personnel for local governments. Even the act stipulates about the constitution of new local service panel to recommend recruitment of employees serving in local bodies. It is an important provision allowing more avenues for local entities to exercise say over the employees and create their loyalty to the local government institutions. However, will the creation of an independent mechanism or service category for local governments serve the purpose of administrative decentralisation, it is a question that begs for some discussions.

At present the government employees working at the deconcentrated line agency offices are said to be over seventy thousands. The line agency offices will have to be attached to the District development committees in long run especially after the local bodies are enabled to establish their units to that end. The local governments will then exercise control and coordination over the employees coming into their fold through such integration and mergers. For the employees thus deputed in the local governments, it will be a big change in the pattern of loyalty and environment. They will have to perform the role of a local official. His or her unit of administration including policy making is much smaller than a national department. The employers- DDCs, municipalities and VDCs-are nearer and are more involved with the details of the work. The employers and public are closely linked.

Because the work of employees is related to a limited geographical, horizontal links between the technical functions tend to be stronger. In fact, the local personnel need to understand nature and sensitivity of local functions. The need for efficient administration and the need to preserve a flexibility of response is common requisite of administrative and bureaucratic cadre both at the central and local level.

Till today, despite the fact that we have Local Self-Governance Act and the Local Self-Governance Rules, no bureaucratic changes have taken place and our personnel system remains the same as it was in the past. The situation will have to change once the new local government law is implemented and some of the line agency offices are taken over by the local government institutions.

Though the employees are governed by the civil service rules and cannot be forced to accept any terms and conditions risking benefits and career propects, there exists no better alternate than to place them at the disposal of local government institutions on deputation basis. They will continue to be on deputation with local bodies until superannuation or transfer to another place by the government.

The nations undergoing decentralisation have adopted different models especially in regard to restructuring personnel system. The example of the Philippines can be of some relevance in our context. In the Philippines, great care has been taken to ensure that there occurs no disruptions in the delivery of basic services. The Local Government Code provides for transfer to Local government units of the personnel of national agencies and offices affected by the devolution of powers, functions and responsibilities. Such personnel are absorbed by the local governments to which they belong or in whose areas they are assigned to the extent that it is administratively viable. But the implementing rules and regulations uphold the rights of the personnel transferred to the local governments. The devolved permanent personnel enjoys the security of tenure and there is not involuntary separation, termination or lay off of permanent personnel affected by devolution.

In the Philippines, the national civil service personnel who are not absorbed by the local government units need to be retained by the national government agencies concerned subject to civil service law, rules and regulations. The rank and tenure of the devolved personnel can not be reduced or impaired. And there is no diminution in pay or benefits of the devolved personnel. The authority of local government units to organise local bureaucracy is subject to some limitations. The organisational structure and staffing pattern must meet the minimum standards and guidelines prescribed by the civil service commission. The government reorganisation at the local level is governed by rules and regulation protecting the security of tenure of civil service officers and employees. No civil service officer or employee can be removed except for valid causes and reasons.

In our neighbouring country India too state government personnel have been devolved to Panchayat Raj Institutions. The cases and examples of the state of Kerala and Karnataka can also be relevant. In Kerala, institutions and posts have been transferred to Village Panchayat, Block Panchayat, District Panchayat and municipal corporations.

Homework

In our context, serious homework is needed to implement the question of personnel system in local bodies.

The sanctity of local autonomy and self governance, security of civil servants and issue of efficiency and effectiveness need to be collectively addressed while establishing the personnel system in local government institutions.

Some Tips For Sensible Living

By Sanjeev Pandey

MOMENT by moment—that’s the way time goes by in our lives. And what we do during those moments largely determines the state of our health. In other words, whether we get sick and what we get sick with, and even die from, primarily result from the decisions that each of us make hour by hour, day by day.

Because of the nature of man, all of us are destined to die someday. When and how this occurs is the result of two major factors: heredity and lifestyle.

The first, those strengths and weaknesses we inherit from our parents, is beyond our control.

The second, the cumulative effects of the multitude of things we do or don’t do, has the greatest effects on our health and well-being; and it usually determines our ultimate fate.

Numerous studies of individuals and groups of people with similar lifestyles have concluded that the so-called good life modern man has sought, can kill. Today’s major killers are heart disease, cancer, stroke, and accidents. Within the past century man conquered the old killers -mostly communicable diseases like TB, Typhoid fever, and small pox—but he has unleased the lifestyle diseases so devasting today.

This undermining of health has resulted from such changes as environment pollution, the abuse of tobacco and alcohol, sedentary living promoted by labour saving conveniences, eating patterns that put pleasure of the senses above the physiological needs of the body, and the stresses created by modern life.

To be more candid, today’s health problems and premature deaths result from such common insults to the human body as overeating, eating foods rich in sugar and animal fat, lack of adequate physical activity or exercise smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and living in an increasingly life threatening environment.

Most modern disease conditions develop slowly. Some, such as heart disease and cancer, often arise after decades of abuse of the body. We need to learn more about how our bodies work and how to keep them functioning well. People generally take better care of their cars and pets than of themselves.

The rules for sensible living are not very complicated, and they don’t cost you anything extra. You just need to decide-moment by moment-how you’re going to live. To live a healthy and long life eat simple nutritious food. Eat regularly. Eat only what you need to maintain your ideal weight.

Don’t forget to exercise. You may be surprised at how enjoyable and refreshing regular outdoor activity can be.

Respect your body’s need for rest. Sufficient sleep is not a luxury; it is a necessity.

Use lots of water-inside and outside.

Avoid the health destroying habits of smoking and taking alcohol and preserve the life
you have; don’t destroy
it.

Lastly, enjoy life by being positive and don’t forget to put your trust in God.

The "goodlife" can kill. Make sensible decisions and live.