Representatives refuse to return dual facilities

By Our Correspondent, Myagdi, Aug. 10: The people's representatives of Beni Municipality, who took dual facilities against the rules, have not returned the money yet. 

Four people's representatives, including the Mayor of the municipality, who were receiving pension, have not returned Rs. 2,388,755 which they received from the government for two fiscal years against the rules. Despite repeated reminders by the municipality, they have turned a deaf year to the calls.

The local level representatives and members facility Act 2074 of  the Gandaki Province states that if the people receiving pension from the government trust are elected or nominated as the people's representatives or members, they should receive only one of the facilities—either pension or the allowance—from the government.

In the Auditor General's report, it has been mentioned that four people’s representatives have taken dual benefits against the rules in the financial years 2017/018 and 2019/020.

Former Mayor Hari Kumar Shrestha had received Rs. 1,008,675, ward chair of Ward No. 4 Govinda Paudel Rs. 667,280, ward member of Ward No. 1 Tek Bahadur Thapa Rs. 356,400 and ward member of Ward No. 6 Daya Sagar Sharma Rs. 356,400 against the rules, mentions Auditor General’s annual report 2079.

Ratna KC, auditor of the municipality, said that the four people’s representatives had been asked to return the amount to the municipality. Earlier, the province had made the act to allow people’s representatives to receive double benefits but later the provision was revoked for the officials to receive pension from the government trust after being elected or nominated as the peoples’ representatives or members. Thus, the arrears were created in the name of the four people’s representatives, said KC.