KATHMANDU, MARCH 9
The federal government has developed the model 'Municipality/Rural Municipality Work Operation Procedure- 2021' stipulating a range of facilities for elected representatives and employees of the local levels.
This procedure will come into effect after it is approved by the executive office of the local units concerned.
According to the procedure published on the website of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, the chief administrative officer of gazetted special class working in the local level may purchase a vehicle at a cost of up to seven million rupees. Similarly, the CAO of gazetted first class will be entitled to a vehicle costing maximum six million rupees.
The procedure has stipulated a provision of 200CC motorcycles or scooters for responsible employees as well.
"Priority shall be accorded to e-vehicle or zero emission vehicle while purchasing such two-wheeler or four-wheelers," it says. Elected officials and other employees of the local levels will enjoy transportation fare while carrying out their duties and responsibilities.
"The local units can operate vehicles for official purpose by hiring them on an annual basis.
Officials, who are entitled to enjoy separate vehicles, will get Rs 50,000 as maintenance and repair expenses per year.
For motorcycles or scooters, the expenses have been set at Rs 10,000 per annum," the procedure reads.
Fuel expenses have also been provisioned for local level employees. Other facilities include communication, dress and incentive allowances; training, workshop and symposium allowances, daily and travelling allowances, meeting allowance; and snacks and hospitality allowance.
As per the procedure, officials and employees attending a meeting chaired by the chief / deputy chief of the local level will get Rs 1,500 (exclusive of tax) as allowance per meeting.
However, participants at meetings chaired by other officials or employees will be entitled to Rs 1,200 (exclusive of tax). In addition, up to Rs 250 may be spent on tea and snacks for participants of a meeting. "A person may attend maximum two meetings a day," it says.
Likewise, any official or employee working overtime will get Rs 300-600 each as lunch expense. "Chiefs, deputy chiefs and ward chairs of local levels may spend amounts ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 per month for tea and hospitality from the budget of the local level.
In yet another facility, chief of a metropolitan city may appoint a person as his/her personal secretary by providing monthly salary of Rs 30,000.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 10, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
