KATHMANDU, AUGUST 14
Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Nawalpara,si (East), Rukum (West) and Dadeldhura have been ranked the top five districts on the basis of performance evaluation of district administration offices across the country in the fiscal 2021- 22. There are 77 DAOs in the country.
Of them, Gulmi stands in the first position with 97.75 marks (outstanding) out of 100. Arghakhanchi, Nawalparasi (East), Rukum (West) and Dadeldhura rank second, third, fourth and fifth respectively with 95-97 (excellent) marks.
According to the evaluation report of annual performance contract registered with the DAOs, 41 districts have obtained up to 94 marks (very good), 29 districts range from 80 to below 93 (good) and two districts ranging from 60 to below 90 (satisfactory). No district is below the par in terms of performance evaluation. The home secretary had entered the performance contract with the respective chief district officers on 16 July 2021 in line with Section 15.1 of the Civil Service Act and Rule 34b of the Civil Service Rules.
As per the performance contract, the MoHA evaluated the overall performance of the DAOs in six thematic areas - peace and security, good governance and service delivery, control of drug smuggling, disaster risk reduction and management, compensation distribution, and coordination in development activities.
The full marks for performance evaluation was 100. The MoHA provided marks on the basis of their achievement in the thematic areas. The performance contract includes matters such as goals of the office, budget, human resources and other resources, means required to achieve the goals, time-frame to achieve the goals, results to be achieved or expected achievements, indicators of the work performance evaluation, conditions for the cancellation of work performance agreement, powers required for implementation of performance contract, and period of work performance contract, among others.
According to the rules, the concerned ministry and department should regularly monitor whether work has been carried out or not as per the agreement in the performance contract. There will be a committee under the convenorship of the concerned ministry, and representatives of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration and the National Planning Commission for annual appraisal of works as per the performance contract.
In the event of failure to perform in accordance with the performance contract, except in cases of circumstances beyond control, special responsibility of any chief post shall not be given to such chief district officer for at least two years, the rules state.
Point No 26 of the Home Administration Reforms Action Plan has also stated that the MoHA will conclude performance contract with departmental heads, CDOs, and chiefs of security agencies under it to make them more competent, strong, service-oriented and responsible by bringing about reforms in service delivery mechanisms.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 15, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
