Karnali constructing residential school buildings in remote areas

By Our Correspondent,Surkhet, Dec. 12: The provincial government has continued the construction of residential school buildings in remote areas. This year, the plans for building construction will be implemented through local governments. The programme initiated by the Karnali Provincial Government will now be executed by local governments.

In the last fiscal year, these construction activities were carried out through the District Social Development Office. From this year, the budget has been allocated directly to municipalities, according to the Surkhet Directorate of Education Development. 

Acting Director Diya Hamal mentioned that five municipalities across five districts have been allocated the budget. As per her, funds have been sent to Palanta Rural Municipality in Kalikot, Tila Rural Municipality in Jumla, Sarkegad Rural Municipality in Humla, Karmarong Rural Municipality in Mugu, and Kaike Rural Municipality in Dolpa. Each municipality has been allocated a budget of 5 million Nepalese rupees.

From this fiscal year, the construction work will be managed by the respective municipalities. The Ministry of Social Development stated that entrusting the construction work to municipalities would ensure effectiveness. A total budget of 25 million Nepalese rupees has been allocated for the construction of five school buildings this year. According to Jawaharlal Hamal, Undersecretary of the Ministry, municipalities will also take ownership of the projects, which is why the budget has been directly allocated to them.

The provincial government introduced the concept of building one school in each of the five districts of Karnali during the fiscal year 2016/17. Due to limited facilities in remote Himalayan districts, the need for residential schools was recognized, and efforts have been intensified accordingly. Over four fiscal years, school building construction has been carried out through District Social Development Offices.

From the current fiscal year, the Ministry of Social Development has stated that budgets will be implemented directly by municipalities to ensure completion. Based on necessity, ownership will be transferred, and budgets have been allocated directly to local levels this year. In Karnali Province, model residential schools are being constructed in Kalikot, Humla, Dolpa, Mugu, and Jumla districts following defined standards.

Completion of construction via municipalities

Municipalities will oversee the complete construction of school buildings. According to agreements, residential school buildings are being constructed. Each year, one block is built. In Ward No. 9 of Palanta Rural Municipality of Kalikot, the construction of a residential school building is ongoing.

The rural municipality has stated that additional work will be undertaken this year to complete the project. From this year, municipalities will execute the construction work, as noted by Kal Bahadur Bhandari, head of the Education Section. According to him, after assessing technical requirements, the projects will be finalized. Similarly, in Jumla's Kanakasundari Rural Municipality, Ward No. 7, residential school building construction is underway.

Education unit chief Jivan Rokaya mentioned that this year, contracts have been awarded through municipalities, and work has been accelerated. As per him, a budget of 5 million Nepalese rupees has been allocated for municipalities this year. In Karmarong Rural Municipality-3 of Mugu, the school building construction is ongoing, with the municipality taking charge of contracts and the work progressing.

Budget cuts each year

For the construction of infrastructure of model residential schools, the budget allocated under the five-year ongoing plan has been reduced. In the fiscal year 2016/17, a budget of 10 million NPR was allocated for the construction of one school in each of five districts in Surkhet. To continue building construction, in FY 2019/20, the government provided 5 million NPR per school.

In the third year, FY 2022/23, the provincial government allocated 5 million NPR per school for the continuation of the construction. In the fourth year, FY 2023/24, 5 million NPR was allocated for construction continuity. In the current fiscal year, FY 2024/25, a budget of 5 million NPR per school has been sent to municipalities to continue the programme.