Achham, November 19:

Secretaries of several village development committees in Achham are yet to return to their respective VDCs despite the improving security situation in the country. Many of them are performing their duties by opening make-shift offices in district headquarters Mangalsen.

The absence of VDC secretaries has hampered registration of births, marriages and deaths and necessary recommendations that locals need.

“I don’t know who is the secretary of our VDC. I last saw him some five or six years back,” Mahendra Shah of Ramaroshan-1, who was heading to Mangalsen to meet the secretary of his VDC, said. “I hope I’ll recognise him,” he added.

Lal Bahadur Budha, former chairman of Ramaroshan VDC, expressed dissatisfaction over the

absence of secretaries in VDC offices.

“We expect little from them,” Budha said, adding that even the council meetings of the VDC were being held in Mangalsen.

Almost all the VDC secretaries have been commissioning their duties from Mangalsen. “Only the secretaries of some VDCs adjoining the district headquarters are carrying out their duties from their VDC offices,” locals said.

Kalu Singh Saud, secretary of Kuntiwandali VDC, who has been handling the duties of five VDCs, said it was not practical to stay in villages. Saud has opened up an office in a room to look after the administrative works of five VDCs —Hichma, Walata, Wasti, Kuika and Chalsa.

However, programme officer at District Development Committee, Achham, Khadka Bista, said not all VDC secretaries were operating from the district headquarters.

“Efforts are on to send them back to their respective VDCs,” Bista added.