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BOOK REVIEW |
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BOOK REVIEW |
Fragile Districts,
Futile Decentralization Book Dr.
Harka Gurung discusses the crucial issue of consolidating the development by revamping the
present 75 districts to 25 By A CORRESPONDENT In the last five decades, the country has seen many changes in terms of expansion of infrastructures like health posts, schools and roads but the geographical division of Nepal remains as it is. Dr. Gurung, the veteran geographer and planner, proposes to consolidate the present 75 districts to 25. Planner’s aim is aimed at facilitating decentralization, reducing the administrative cost and resources mobilization against the backdrop of fragile state of districts in terms of economic viability. “Decentralization has been an important agenda for good governance. Hyper mobility of capital and information pits one layer of governance against another for investment and resources allocation that limits the capacity of the local self-governance units to carry out autonomous policies in the social and economic spheres. The question before us is: what are the right ways of original local governance and development?” writes Professor Bishwa Keshar Maskay. “Dr. Harka Gurung in his book provides the outline of the decentralization related efforts in Nepal and says that the power sharing is contingent on the relative strength of the contending parties.” Although Nepal is one of the pioneer countries in the South Asia to exercise the decentralization, it has been following the same old similar structures and patterns in course of its implementation. In reality, there has been a lot of changes in a lot of districts but no one has made any effort to consolidate the districts in order to reduce the expenditures and facilitate other works. “Nepal has long been involved with decentralization exercise for a better state management. In this administrative districts constitute a crucial hierarchy in the political and bureaucratic structure,” said Dr. Harka Gurung. “The intent of the paper is to explore the link between the intent (decentralization) and vital component (district).” The history of institution building process is old in Nepal. In 1919 when regulation relating to Kathmandu municipality was promulgated, it had just a simple right to look after petty judicial cases and town sanitation. From the initial concept to the full-blown course of decentralization process, Dr. Gurung discusses various modes of decentralization in Nepal. Being a well-known development planner, Dr. Gurung explains extensively how Nepal will benefit through the trimming of the present district structure. At a time when the country’s resources need to be consolidated, there is no sense to have 75 districts. Exercising his own long experiences, Dr. Gurung highlights all different aspects including financial resources, human resources and administrative costs. “There is need for conceptual clarity on the forms and functions in the decentralization process. Delegation, decentralization and devolution are not evolutionary stages but discrete forms. Delegation and decentralization are basically related to exercise of administrative authority in which the lower hierarchies are allowed tenancy,” writes Dr. Gurung. In the initial phase, the division of the country on the basis of district and village development committees was justifiable since there were difficulties of transportation. Following the improvement of the transport facilities, the time has come to re-evaluate the existing structure. Dr. Gurung has rightly raised the valid questions. |
|| Cover
Story || Pillar of Strength
|| Groping For Solution || Terrors
Of Tremors || Interview || Economy || Price
War || Education || |
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editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
