Dhangadi, October 10

Locals of remote Mohanyal Rural Municipality in Kailali are compelled to frequent the district headquarters to get government services, thanks to government employees who have ensconced themselves in the headquarters away from their duty stations.

“There are offices but not a single staffer,” said a local, accusing the government employees of making a mockery of law. Most of the locals in the remote Mohanyal are compelled to make a long haul to Dhangadi, where the government staffers assigned have set up a de-facto office.

Mohanyal Rural Municipality Executive Officer Ganeshdatta Ojha, however, tried to defend their decision to operate from the district headquarters. “Khimadi is quite remote and lacks facilities such as internet and banks. So we thought why not set up an office in Dhangadi as we have to come to Dhangadi, no matter what,” he said, admitting that all staffers deputed at the rural municipality office had not reported to work.

“The office was set up here in Dhangadi during the election time itself given the hassle to commute between the headquarters and the village,” he said, adding that they were ready to discharge from the duty station itself if the elected local representatives so want. “If local representatives say, we are ready to discharge from Khimadi itself once the road is constructed,” he added.

On his part, Chief District Officer Mohanraj Joshi ruled that the government staffers must discharge from their duty station, come what may. “They are government employees, so they must go to the place they are deputed. Otherwise, they will have to face action,” he said, calling on local representatives to report to his office or the district coordination committee in case any government staff ignores to hit their duty stations.