Okhaldhunga, February 21

An office assistant has been running Khijiphalate Area Administration Office for five months sans senior staff in Okhaldhunga.

The office that was set up with the aim of delivering services to six western remote VDCs a year ago is being run by assistant Yam Narayan Shrestha. Shrestha, however, does not have the authority to do much, so he just opens and closes the office everyday. The locals, thus, have no option but make a two-hour journey on foot to the district headquarters for citizenship certificate, recommendation for passport and other services.

“A first class non-gazetted officer was appointed to carry out everyday business at the office for six months. However, he returned to the district headquarters after his term got over. Service delivery has now come to a grinding halt,” complained locals.

The locals of Area No 6 Khijiphalate, Khijikati, Khijichandeshwori, Ragani, Rawadolu, and Bhusinga have been worst hit due to disruption in service delivery for months.

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer of Okhaldunga Phanindra Dahal said the Public Service Commission was supposed to deploy employees at the office. “We have informed the PSC about the staff crunch, we can do nothing until the commission sends new staffers,” said CDO Dahal.