Khotang, September 2

An office assistant of Jantedhunga Rural Municipality is working as ward secretary in two wards for want of secretaries in Khotang district.

It has been one year since the local level was formed, however, lack of employees has forced office assistant Krishna Bahadur Katwal of Jantedhunga Rural Municipality to act as ward secretary of wards No 4 and 2.

Rural municipality Chair Shankar Rai said there had been shortage of secretaries ever since the rural municipality came into effect. There are six wards in Jantedhunga Rural Municipality. According to Rai, regular work of both wards has been affected as one person has to look after both the wards.

Similarly, non-gazetted first class officer Bidur Subba of the rural municipality is serving as secretary in wards No 3 and 6 for want of employees. In the same manner, sub-overseer Bhim Bahadur Karki of the rural municipality is working as ward secretary of wards No 1 and 5.

Rural municipality Chair Rai said all the wards were without secretary after the secretaries were transferred.

Out of nine wards of Khotehang Rural Municipality, five wards are running without secretary. Likewise, out of six wards, three wards are without secretaries at Barahpokhari Rural Municipality, while three wards out of seven are sans ward secretaries at Kepilasagadhi Rural Municipality.