Decentralisation
Let The Current Framework Work

By Mukti Rijal

THERE have been criticism mounted against the government especially pointing accusing fingers at the lack of commitment or serious efforts to accelerate the process of decentralisation. The blame is partly right and partly wrong as well. If the commitments expressed in the policy documents are to be trusted or valued, the government appears very sincere and honest. However, there is always a yawning gap between what the government talks in the policy document and what it practices in real ground. It is also true in respect to implementing decentralisation process in the country.

Decentralisation is not an easy process. It is a difficult proposition in the sense that the process ultimately leads to reverses in the role, power and functions. Those wielding power and basking in the glory of privileges and prerogatives at the upper echelon may have to reconcile to a very different role and situations. Decentralisation is therefore a protracted process taking along time in restructuring the power relations in politics, bureaucracy and even in the society. This year despite several other problems confronting the country the government appears honest in reinvigorating the process of decentralisation. The government policies and programmes spelt out in the Royal address to the joint sitting of the Parliament place greater emphasis to further the decentralisation and self-governance process. The budget statement presented in the Parliament about three weeks back provides clear substantiation to the programmes spelt out in the Royal Address to the Parliament.

The budget contains a separate chapter dealing with decentralisation clarifying the government programmes for the following financial year. According to the budget statement, the government is going to formulate decentralisation implementation plan for strengthening the capacity of local government institutions. The government makes an important pledge to review the existing organisation, structure and number of the local bodies. This is a very important issue for which the government has committed to carryout this year. It is very difficult to say about what the government is pondering about. One can question the government move especially contending if it was the right time to undertake such a radical step.

The local bodies are yet to be stabilised and properly settled. A big and ambitious undertaking to create an appropriate framework for local bodies has been just accomplished following the enactment of the Local self-governance act and the regulations. Local bodies have started to wok under new framework and dispensation. Moreover, implementation of decentralisation and self-governance process envisaged under the prevailing framework is yet to be undertaken. At this stage, there exists no body of data and information relying on whom a review of the composition and structure could be carried out. On top of it, we should wait at least for the period of a decade to generate sufficient data and information that could inform our deliberation to review and restructure composition and structure of the local bodies. We have come to a stage of implementation but not repeating the exercise of imposing new framework. This leads to a situation of instability and confusion. We should not allow the context overshadowed by debate and discussion because we have at hand a framework demanding implementation in honest and sincere spirit.

Except for the pledge to undertake a review on the existing framework of the local bodies, the commitment to reach technical personnel out to the villages for technical perusal and clearance of the local level projects has been a commendable one. The government has promised to implement recommendations of the local body fiscal commission to strengthen resource capability and base of the VDCs, DDCs and municipalities. Moreover, the commitment to create a mechanism to make auditing mechanism strong for ensuring that transparency and accountability is maintained at the local level is also appreciable.

Another important aspect of budget statement for the financial year 2001/ 2002 has been the commitment expressed for devolutionary arrangement. The government is going to hand over the functions relating to primary education, primary health, postal services, agricultural extension and veterinary services to the local bodies together with the financial resources needed for these functions at the local level. The line agency offices will supervise and ensure that the quality of these functions is properly ensured. The government has appreciated the current needs and geared up its activities towards strengthening decentralisation. This is the praiseworthy step. However, the pledge to undertake review of the current framework does not go well since it is too early to go in for such an undertaking. At least for the next five years let us allow the current framework to work and provide us sufficient basis to find out where the pitfalls occur, It is expected that there is no such initiation that creates confusions and uncertainty.

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