9 July, Kathmandu : Minister for Education and Sports and spokesperson of the government, Sashmit Pokharel, has argued the government is committed to maintaining good governance which the citizens could realize.
For it, reform initiatives would be institutionalized and result-oriented, he added. Presenting a summary of major activities and achievements of the government in the first 100 days since its formation in the meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) on Thursday, Minister Pokharel shared that concrete results were achieved with zero tolerance to corruption, frugality, appointments based on competence and ‘digital’ service delivery during this period.
The first Cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah approved the 100-point agenda for governance reform, he reminded, adding the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has been conducting regular monitoring, coordination and facilitation by setting deadline and assigning responsible body and performance indicators of each agenda.
The Spokesperson underscored that the number of federal ministries was reduced to 18 to lessen administrative burdens and 17-member Cabinet was in place. These moves help save around Rs 20 billion in a year. Various policies and legal provisions related to good governance, public service and development were forwarded and the Public Procurement (Second Amendment) Bill was tabled in the parliament he shared, expressing belief that the passage of the Bill would make purchasing process simpler, easier and competitive. According to him, the government decided to abolish trade unions, thereby liberating the public administration from political interference.
The property investigation commission was formed to investigate the illegal property of top political leaders and high-ranking employees and take action against them. Over 11,000 such persons had submitted property details and complaints were collected so far, the Spokesperson added. Pokharel stressed that a high-level probe report related to Bal Mandir and dispute over Ncell Share ownership were brought into implementation.
National Integrity Policy incorporating the promotion of ethics, formulation of code of conducts, implementation and control of conflict of interest was brought by the government, he shared before HoR. Coordination has been established with 17 agencies to clear the encroached land of Tribhuvan University and record of a large amount of government and public land updated, Minister Pokharel stated.
The government’s spokesperson briefed the HoR that the government paid Rs 350 million to dairy farmers; fixed minimum support price of wheat and paddy; and facilitated in payment of Rs 13.76 billion to sugarcane farmers. As per government’s performance in the first 100 days, the boards, committees and projects having dual mandates were scrapped and merged and quotas at ministries were cut down through organisation and management (O&M) survey.
A separate Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry was formed and a process forwarded to auction and handover of vehicles stuck in customs office. Likewise, 31 different non-productive government agencies were scrapped, six merged, and six others transferred. An initiative has been forwarded to restructure 18 bodies, according to him. Rs 132.6 million was recovered from university teachers who misused study leave. Even 672 government vehicles used illegally were returned.
Sharing that more than 1,500 politically appointed office-bearers were relieved of posts and a move taken to ensure appointments through open competition, public advertisement and expert selection committee based on merit system, he said the government for the first time adopted open competition to appoint ambassadors for different countries. The appointment process is in final phase.
Help desks have been set up at Survey and Land Administration Office by ending undue influence of middlemen. Arrangement is in place to provide different documents including citizenship certificates and passports at people’s doorsteps through postal service in 75 districts, he said. Minister Pokharel added the government has made arrangement for the recommendation of citizenship certificate through online system from local levels of all 77 districts. Similarly, online ‘pre-enrollment’ and appointment systems are in place for passport service and digital timecard at the Department of Immigration. Government Apps and portals have been ensured disabled-friendly and integrated ‘website’ launched, according to Spokesperson Pokharel.
