June 10, 2005

A report analyzes the needs and scopes of devolution for the sustainable and equitable development of Nepal

By A CORRESPONDENT

Decentralization and devolution have always been regarded as vehicles for balanced and equitable development of Nepal . Whether it was during the centralized Panchayat regime or during the multi party democracy or during the post February 1 regime of ‘disciplined or guided’ democracy, the establishment has always hailed decentralization as a means of development.

Unfortunately, the true implementation of decentralization has always eluded Nepalese people. In course of gradual and evolutionary democratization, the roots of decentralization have been planted but they are yet to grow in order to deliver the fruits of development to common people. 

There is no doubt in the current day Nepalese mindset that democratization and decentralization are the ways to move forward. Although the conflict and political impasse has resulted in the dismal situation of grass roots democratic institutions like local bodies, there are ample reasons to believe that further intensification of grass root democratization coupled with meaningful devolution of authority would lead to equitable development.  

As such, efforts to analyze the situation and scope of decentralization are always welcome. Rural Development Foundation (RDF) – an NGO active in areas like local self-governance, gender development, environment, among others – has recently come up with a comprehensive report on “Sectoral Devolution Strategy”, which deals with the existing situation, present capacity and future needs for the effective devolution of authority to the local bodies.  

Although the Foundation had prepared an earlier report in the same subject, they have updated, included new chapter on concept and definition of decentralization and revised to come up with the latest report in English. The report has been published in a book form in cooperation with DASU/DANIDA – which has been steadfastly supporting the democratization and decentralization at grass roots level in Nepal for the last many years.

 “The new book is aimed at introducing even the foreign readers about the ground situation of decentralization in Nepal and provide with workable suggestions to consolidate and expand the practice of local democracy through empowered local bodies that are elected and popular,” said Krishna Man Pradhan, executive director of RDF.

 The book is divided into nine chapters including the ones dealing with concept of decentralization, an outline of history of decentralization in Nepal , trends and practices, existing situation, capacity of local bodies and prescriptions for planned sectoral devolution.

 “This report has made the attempt to comprehensively study the various aspects related to self-governance and has come up with a draft of Sectoral Devolution Strategy. In course of framing the strategy, the fact regarding the capacity development of local bodies, too, was found to be deeply intertwined. So, the report also attempts to provide the framework of capacity development strategy,” writes Pradhan in Foreword.

 What is more significant is that the draft strategy presented in the report – full with specific jobs that could be devolved to the local level, timetables required to implement it and agencies responsible for implementing the strategy – was compiled after detailed and series of interactions with all the stakeholders – the government officials, planners, policy-makers, line ministry officials, political parties, local body representatives and experts. The book is definite to be useful for students, teachers, experts, donors and all those who want to know about the process of decentralization in Nepal .