• Employees needed for the local levels will be manged by the federal government

Kathmandu, July 16

Secretary at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya today said that elected representatives of local levels were facing difficulty carrying out their functions due to the lack of local level operation procedure.

Speaking at a programme organised in Kathmandu, Thapaliaya said, “Though the local levels can exercise powers conferred on them by the constitution, they have been rendered toothless due to lack of procedure.” He informed that 22 powers listed in Schedule-8 and 15 powers listed in Schedule-9 of the constitution are vested in local levels.

“Necessary laws, including the procedure, should have been enacted prior to holding the civic polls, but the government could not predict such challenges. This failure has left the elected representatives virtually without work,” said Thapaliya. He also informed that the representatives were not entitled to any facility or remuneration as they were elected by people for the development of their local levels. “Local representatives are not salaried employees, but the concerned local level may fix their salary and facilities by enacting laws in the local level itself,” he said.

Secretary Thapaliya warned that people could raise question on their motivation if they were more concerned about their facilities. “However, local levels may fix the facilities of elected representatives depending on the availability of local resources and capacity after necessary laws are enacted in accordance with the constitution. Some laws are in consideration in the Parliament while others are still in the making,” he said.

Secretary Thapaliya also asserted that elected representatives were not empowered to enjoy salary and vehicle, and to appoint employees and urged them to be responsible. “Employees needed for the local levels will be managed by the federal level and arrangements of new employees will be made through Public Service Commission,” he said.

With the commencement of fiscal 2017-18, the local levels will perform most of the tasks, including registration, renewal and regulation of NGOs, industries and media.