Karnali Province to enact law for NGO coordination

By Rajani Yogi,Surkhet, Feb.1: The Karnali Province government is preparing to enact a law to coordinate with non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The legislation aims to maintain records of NGOs and enhance the effectiveness of the programmes they implement, according to the provincial government.

Under the proposed law, development partners seeking to operate programmes in the province will be required to obtain prior approval from the provincial government.

Currently, various NGOs implement programmes based on their own preferences, often leading to a lack of tangible impact and duplication of efforts with government-led initiatives.

So far, NGOs operating in Karnali Province have been executing programmes through bilateral agreements with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration of the federal government. However, the province argues that NGOs frequently prioritise their agendas over the province’s actual needs, resulting in limited benefits.

The Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers has said that the new law will ensure that NGO's programmes align with provincial priorities, even if they receive approval from the federal government. 

Acting Secretary of the Chief Minister’s Office, Anand Saru, stressed the necessity of a legal framework for registering and coordinating NGOs, adding that the province currently lacks a proper record of their activities.

The proposed law also seeks to enhance transparency and encourage NGOs to focus on areas of genuine provincial need. Also, it will regulate and monitor the activities of international NGOs operating in Karnali Province.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning has announced that discussions will be held with various stakeholders to determine the structure and key provisions of the new policy. 

Secretary Rabi Lal Sharma said that all programmes will be aligned with sectorial policies to ensure systematic implementation.

According to Sharma, NGOs currently operate in Karnali with approval from the Ministry of Federal Affairs as well as the Social Welfare Council. The provincial government, however, intends to establish a legal framework to systematically coordinate with NGOs for planned development. Chief Minister Yam Lal Kandel clarified that the government’s intention is not to control NGOs but to coordinate efforts for better results. He added that NGOs will be required to seek prior approval from the government under the new law. 

He also said that collaborative efforts yield better outcomes and NGOs have been directed to work in an integrated manner through consultations at various levels.

Numerous NGOs are actively working in Karnali across various sectors. According to the Ministry of Social Development, the majority of NGOs are engaged in women’s and children’s welfare, disability rights, senior citizens' care, Dalit and marginalised communities and social inclusion. Similarly, NGOs operate in sectors such as industry and commerce, agriculture, forestry and environment, tourism, drinking water and sanitation, climate change and infrastructure development. They are also involved in language and script preservation, arts and literature, human rights, law and governance.

Likewise, NGOs contribute to youth and sports development, education and research, health and population-related issues. However, despite the high level of NGO activity in Karnali, critics argue that their impact has not been as significant as expected.