Role of decentralisation stressed

BY RITU RAJ SUBEDI

Nagarkot (Kavre), August 10: The plea for the right of local self-governance had become a cry in wilderness despite the commitment of every successive government that ruled the country after the restoration of multi-party democracy over a decade ago.

People’s representatives complained the establishments have gradually cut off the rights of local bodies, thereby creating hurdles in implementing the concept of decentralization, a key to democracy, in true sense.

They made the grudge at a consultative workshop on Local Self-Governance Act-2055 organized at the hilly resort Thursday. Organised by the Municipalities’ Association Nepal (MuAN), the meeting was attended by lawmakers, mayors, government officials, representatives from VDC Federation, DDC Federation, NGOs and INGOs.

Representatives from 21 Municipalities across the country had gathered at the two-day seminar to discuss on the Act and submit recommendations to the government on Local Self-Governance (First Amendment) Bill-2058 that is expected to be tabled in the current session of the parliament.

The Act was the first law enacted by the government to promote decentralization after the Popular Movement of 2046 B.S. But elected leaders of local bodies have often complained that the Act was not fully implemented although the government brought the Local Self- Governance Regulations under the Act.

The mayors blamed that the government’s focus was only on the frequent amendments in the Act aiming at curbing the rights of the elected representatives. They also said that there are many points in the Act that contradict the Regulation.

In the meeting, they demanded that the government should make a clear demarcation of the rights and limitations of the local bodies-VDCs, Municipalities and DDCs.

The mayors said that the proposed Amendment Bill was against the spirit of decentralization and contained many provisions that would snatch the rights of the local bodies.

It has curtailed the rights of municipalities to collect revenue and mobilise local resources, said Dor Mani Paudel, president of MuAN and mayor of Hetauda Municipality.

"The Bill aims at destroying the present structure of local bodies," said Paudel, adding, "It has diminish the rights of local bodies to collect and fix the taxes."

He said that the Bill has not given right to the municipalities to recruit even lower level staff such as clerks and office assistants.

However, the interesting thing is that officials denied that the government drafted and introduced the Bill. "It is only a rumour," said Surya Saran Regmi, Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Local Development.

Paudel insisted that the government drafted the Amendment Bill and has sent to the cabinet for discussion and is expected to be passed from the current session. The draft of the bill was also made available to the participants.

Although Regmi had denied the existence of the Bill, he said that the government must grant autonomous to the local bodies. "But elected representatives must have clear concepts while making any changes in the Acts and Regulations."

Regmi held the views that local representatives should consider about a supporting mechanism for the local bodies while presenting amendments in the Act.

"From the meeting, we will come up with a number of suggestions for strengthening the local bodies. Among them, we have brought a plan for revenue collection," Paudel elaborated.

House of Representatives Development Committee president Tank Rai said that the Committee would take the suggestions of the meeting positively while presenting the Amendment Bill in the Parliament.

Rai said that the government should not hesitate to grant economic and social rights to the local bodies. He further said that there would not be any changes in the main Act.

MP Rajendra Pandey said that the government granted rights through the Act and curtailed by introducing the Regulation.

Pandey was of the view that there was no need of the Town Development Committee since the municipalities handled the Committee’s works.

DDC Federation president Madhav Paudel said that the government should fix the areas of the local bodies and should give full rights to the municipalities on the revenue collection.

He noted there must be a legal provision to repeal the elected representatives from their post if they desert their parties from which they got ticket.

MuAN Vice President Ashok Banju said that the government should amend the Act and Regulation on the long-term basis.

UDLE coordinator Laxman Raj Bhandari the Act should be amended in the way that they would help simplify the activities of the local bodies for the common people.

DANIDA/DASU representative Hikmat Bista suggested that people should be at the centre while making any changes in the Act.

VDC Federation Representative Pradeep Thapalia pointed out the need of implementing of the already enacted Act and Regulation instead of their frequent amendments.

Nepal must enter world market for progress: KC

Butwal, Aug. 10 (RSS): Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur K.C. inaugurated a national seminar on "The impact in the Nepalese industries after Nepal’s accession to the WTO" in Butwal today.

The seminar aims at familiarising all the citizens about the rationale of the WTO and suggesting the government on charting out a future course of action in this regard.

In his inaugural address, Minister K.C. said that Nepal is not able to boost its national economy by remaining aloof from the international competition that is pervading in the world market.

Strategy should be framed out first of all after determining what the country is in dire need of for its economic advancement, he said, adding that the intellectual circle should draw up its conception keeping in view the state of the country and its people.

Conceding the fact that the nation has failed to make strides in a planned manner, he said it is a matter of utmost importance that all should restrain from harbouring any despondency which is overwhelming in their mind and should become determined to bring about advancement in the economic sector.

Head of the department of economics at the Tribhuvan University Dr. Parthiveshwar Timilsina said it is the need of the hour to adopt the advanced technology to become capable of competing in the world market.

Rupendehi DDC vice president Ramchadra Dhakal noted that Nepalese industries should reduce the cost of production so that they can maintain their presence in the world market.

Butwal Mayor Bhoj Prasad Shrestha said there is in a need of positive thinking rather negative thinking about the WTO.

Rupandehi Industries’ Association Chairman Bhoj Prasad Shrestha was on the chair.