KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 29

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has spoken of the need of putting in place a system requiring the very person responsible for causing damage to the State by passing the buck is made to pay the compensation for the loss incurred.

In a meeting to review the implementation of current fiscal year's policies and programmes, and the budget here today, he stressed on establishing a system to evaluate the extent of damage and loss or harm that the nation suffers due to reluctance in taking the appropriate decision and shifting the responsibility itself.

'It is seen the thinking that one would have to face action for carrying out one's responsibilities and would be spared of the same if not has been increasing in the bureaucracy in recent times. It is high time this mindset has to be seriously reviewed now. It is necessary to be aware that the impact of such a mentality will ultimately be on our achievements and on the protection and development of the political system,' the PM reminded.

According to him, the biggest challenge is failure to take timely decision, shifting responsibility for decision and the tendency of not taking the required initiation on inter-agency coordination. He underscored on making dynamic decisions and taking up creative role in accordance with the laws.

'I have been stressing on this again and again that no one should hesitate in taking decisions remaining within the parameters of the existing Acts and regulations. I am always committed to defend the decision made with good intention by any public official and to provide protection to such official. Therefore, be willing to fulfill a dynamic and creative role accordingly,' the Head of the Government said.

Calling upon the government high officials to pursue immediate reform measures by identifying the causes and problems for not meeting the set targets, PM Dahal pressed for increasing the implementation capacity of the entire administrative mechanism and for achieving the expected outcome in the set timeframe.

He directed the government officials to deliver the public services to be provided to the general public in a prompt, efficient and cost-effective manner.

Stating that a satisfactory answer has not come so far to the question as to why the outcome could not be achieved commensurate with the set target, the PM wondered for how long the tradition of sluggishness in carrying out works and shying away from responsibility pointing to lack of budget and preparation and human resources would continue.

'Results have not been coming due to the lack of harmony in policy and programmes, budget and plans. The increasing tendency of government ministries and other agencies not fulfilling performance as per the set annual goals and indicators, and of political and administrative leaderships hesitating to take decisions is not a positive message,' the PM observed.

PM Dahal said the result of progress review has made the government serious and it was compulsion to change traditional working style.

Stating that the targets set by the ministries themselves have not been implemented, he said there is a doubt that the projection capacity, determination of priorities, resource mobilization and expenditure capacity to achieve desired results would remain weak.

PM Dahal questioned 'These targets were set by all ministries and bodies themselves. What are the reasons behind failing to achieving progress in implementation as per the targets despite determining the goals themselves?'

He pointed out the need of further collective efforts by Finance Ministry, National Planning Commission and ministries to increase capital expenditure as well as for smooth operation of development projects and programmes.

The Prime Minister directed to carryout activities in order to achieve result bearing full responsibility for effective implementation of projects.