Kathmandu, March 26

Minister for Federal Affairs, Local Development and General Administration Lal Babu Pandit said no civil servant should take undue advantage of the ‘difficult period’ the country was facing.

Stating that the administrative sector was still in transition, Minister Pandit said the government had been working to end the transition by bringing about reforms.

Talking to The Himalayan Times, the minister said the government was working to fill vacancies of civil servants immediately to give momentum to development work. “Due to political instability, prolonged transition and subsequent elections, development work has been affected,” he said.

Minister Pandit asked all civil servants to their working style and conventional mindset. “Without changing our working style and mindset, we cannot achieve our goals,” he said. He said implementation of federalism and ensuring happiness and prosperity of Nepalis were the only priority of this government and that his ministry was towards that end.

According to Pandit, the first priority of the government is to ensure smooth delivery of services to the people. He said about 78 per cent of government staffers had already reached their designated places, but some of them were still expressing reluctance to relocate. “We don’t have any time to waste. No employee can say that s/he does not want to go to offices where they have been deployed,” he said.

Pandit said he had also directed the authorities concerned not to accept attendance of staffers from offices other than where they had been deployed.

Stating that some officials were yet to accept their deputation letters, while others had not yet reached designated offices after receiving their letters, Pandit warned action would be taken against those who accepted attendance of staffers already deployed to other offices. Pandit said the government had given facilities to civil servants as per its capacity and so they should not bargain with the government for more facilities.

He also said that it was up to the government to approve the resignation or application for voluntary retirement schemes of civil servants.  “Frankly, we are not in a position to give voluntary retirement to experienced civil servants,” Pandit said, making it clear that only those who are unable to serve due to their physical or mental inability could get voluntary retirement.

Minister Pandit also said that his statements were twisted to mislead the people. “But I am confident such attempts will not succeed. I do not say anything that gives dual meaning. I have urged civil servants to serve wherever they have been deployed. And I am clear about it.”