PM stresses establishing system making person causing loss to State pay for the same

Kathmandu, Feb 29: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has spoken of the need to put in place a system requiring the very person responsible for causing damage to the State by passing the buck made to pay the compensation for the loss incurred. 

In a meeting to review the implementation of the current fiscal year's policies and programmes, and the budget here today, he stressed establishing a system to evaluate the extent of damage and loss or harm that the nation suffers due to reluctance in taking the appropriate decision and shifting the responsibility itself.   

"It is the thinking that one would have to face action for carrying out one's responsibilities and would be spared of the same if not has been increasing in the bureaucracy in recent times. It is high time this mindset has to be seriously reviewed now. It is necessary to be aware that the impact of such a mentality will ultimately be on our achievements and the protection and development of the political system," the PM reminded.

According to him, the biggest challenge is failure to make timely decisions, shifting responsibility for decisions and the tendency of not taking the required initiation on inter-agency coordination. He underscored making dynamic decisions and taking up creative roles by the laws.

"I have been stressing on this again and again that no one should hesitate in making decisions remaining within the parameters of the existing Acts and regulations. I am always committed to defending the decision made with good intentions by any public official and to protecting such officials. Therefore, be willing to fulfill a dynamic and creative role accordingly," the Head of the Government said.

Calling upon the government's high officials to pursue immediate reform measures by identifying the causes and problems for not meeting the set targets, PM Prachanda pressed for increasing the implementation capacity of the entire administrative mechanism and for achieving the expected outcome in the set timeframe. 

He directed government officials to deliver public services to be provided to the general public in a prompt, efficient and cost-effective manner.

Stating that a satisfactory answer has not come so far to the question as to why the outcome could not be achieved commensurate with the set target, the PM wondered for how long the tradition of sluggishness in carrying out work and shying away from responsibility pointing to lack of budget and preparation and human resources would continue.

"Results have not been coming due to the lack of harmony in policy and programmes, budget and plans. The increasing tendency of government ministries and other agencies not fulfilling performance as per the set annual goals and indicators, and of political and administrative leaderships hesitating to take decisions is not a positive message," the PM observed.

PM Prachanda said the result of the progress review has made the government serious and it was a compulsion to change the traditional working style.

 Stating that the targets set by the ministries themselves have not been implemented, he said there is a doubt that the projection capacity, determination of priorities, resource mobilization and expenditure capacity to achieve desired results would remain weak. 

PM Prachanda questioned "These targets were set by all ministries and bodies themselves. What are the reasons behind failing to achieve progress in implementation as per the targets despite determining the goals themselves?" 

He pointed out the need for further collective efforts by the Finance Ministry, National Planning Commission and ministries to increase capital expenditure as well as for the smooth operation of development projects and programmes.   

The Prime Minister directed to carry out activities to achieve results bearing full responsibility for the effective implementation of projects. (RSS)