Local levels without staffers

Bajura, October 2

Lack of local level employees in all local bodies of Bajura has been affecting service delivery to the public. There are nine local bodies in Bajura.

For want of employees at local levels, locals are forced to visit the district headquarters. Local Santosh BK lamented that the new structure of the local bodies had not relieved them of their old problems.

Ward chairs admitted despite the slogan of providing Singh Durbar’s services in villages they had failed to deliver services. Ward Chair Dammar Mahat of Badimalika Municipality-3 said despite their pledge they had failed to deliver service to people due to failure in the staff management. Mahat said Employees’ Management Committee had delayed staff management. “How can we run ward offices when it does not have even a single staffer?” he asked.

Ward offices of rural municipalities and municipalities have been established yet they lack staffers. Employees are reluctant to take up their jobs in the far-flung rural municipalities. Badimalika Municipality Executive Officer Trilok Chandra said a secretary was looking after nine wards.

Locals complained elected representatives had failed to fulfill their pledges made during civic polls.  There are five municipalities and four rural municipalities and 69 wards in the district.

District Coordination Officer and Employees Management Committee Secretary Prakash Raj Paudel said ward offices are in need of 129 staff at the local bodies.

The law has provisioned to have a non-gazetted first class officer at ward office. But, it does not even have a single non-gazetted second class officer. Employees Management Committee said it has requested to the Ministry of General Administration and other agencies to provide necessary staffers in all local levels in the district.