Kaligandaki to provide free health insurance for all citizens

By Arjun Kafle,Syangja, June 25: Kaligandaki Rural Municipality has continued providing free health insurance for its citizens. 

 In the last fiscal year, the rural municipality implemented a policy to insure each citizen for up to Rs. 100,000. 

Chairman of the municipality Khim Bahadur Thapa reaffirmed its continuation in the 17th assembly’s policy and programme for the fiscal year 2025/26. 

The policy and programme include door-to-door health check-ups, free medical check-ups for students, and free ambulance service for pregnant women to reach hospital.

The municipality has enforced a strict policy requiring children of all government employees to be enrolled in community schools. The policy also states a complete ban on the sale and distribution of alcohol and tobacco products around schools.

Playgrounds will be constructed in every neighbourhood, and athletes who win national or international medals will receive a monthly allowance. The Magar language will be developed as the second working language of the rural municipality.

To discourage keeping fertile land barren, a land bank will be established to create jobs, and fines will be imposed on those who leave land uncultivated. 

Farmers will be categorised, and a farmer pension programme will be implemented. A micro-organic fertiliser programme will be introduced in all wards.

Blacktop roads in every village of Aandhikhola

Aandhikhola Rural Municipality’s 17th assembly has adopted a policy to construct blacktop motorable roads in every village.

Rural Municipality Chairperson Bishwanath Poudel said in the policy and programme that blacktop roads have reached ward centres, and now every locality will be connected.

The policy includes completing at least 50 per cent of structural work in road construction and mandates that all projects led by consumer committees must be completed by the end of Falgun each year.

Economic development will be prioritised in agriculture, focusing on improving the living standards of farmers through increased production, productivity, diversification, modernisation, mechanisation, commercialisation, and market access. 

A programme titled "Mechanisation in Production and Market Access through Cooperatives" will be implemented. Each ward will have collection centres for agricultural produce, which will be marketed in partnership with cooperatives. 

To promote the rural municipality through tourism, religious tourism will be advanced by developing, promoting, and publicising areas like Andha-Andhi and Shravan Kumar.

The last Friday of every month will be observed as "Happy Friday" with activities to develop students’ practical skills and capabilities.

Infrastructure and agriculture prioritised in Biruwa

The 17th assembly of Biruwa Rural Municipality has prioritised infrastructure and agriculture.

Chairperson Surya Bahadur Kunwar emphasised infrastructure development such as local roads, suspension bridges, urban development, energy, and communication in the policy and programme.

The policy also includes industry and tourism, agriculture and livestock, cooperatives, poverty alleviation, and employment. Other included sectors are education, culture, youth and sports, gender equality and social inclusion, health, water and sanitation, and respect for women, children, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens.

The policy and programme for the fiscal year 2025/26 encompass agriculture and livestock, health, education, sports, tourism, and entrepreneurship.

Putalibazaar prioritises education

The 17th assembly of Putalibazaar Municipality has prioritised the education sector.

Mayor Tulsiram Regmi announced the formulation of a five-year educational strategy and municipal education plan, with emphasis on improving teaching-learning methods to develop students' reading and writing skills, focusing on real plans and periodic evaluations.

Policies include conducting public service and teacher service commission preparatory classes, computer and IT skills training, career counselling, and basic IT training based on necessity.

Targeted groups such as Kumal, Bote, Majhi, Gandharva communities, residents with “G” category disability identity cards, Badi, female volunteers, and sanitation workers will receive free health insurance.

Plans include nutrition promotion for children up to two years old, free health check-ups and medicine distribution for senior citizens, free eye camps, cataract surgeries, and cervical cancer screening.

Municipalities will prioritise self-sufficiency in agriculture by increasing production and productivity, and develop agricultural and eco-tourism.

Bheerkot prioritises infrastructure

Bheerkot Municipality has prioritised infrastructure in its policy and programme for fiscal year 2025/26. 

Mayor Govinda Kumar Karmaacharya has prioritised upgrading strategic roads such as Bayarghari–Sundarbazaar–Mohandanda–Hatemalo Chowk Road and Bayarghari–Biruwa Road.

The plan includes upgrading rural roads in all wards to make them motorable year-round and ensuring cleanliness.

The policy also includes Andhikhola embankment, 50 per cent subsidy on agricultural tools and irrigation, and management of tourist sites like Bheerkot Park, Gadhare Cave, Sundarchaur, and Sworek Field. The Bheerkot Agricultural Development Project is also included.

Other priorities include disaster management, sustainability of child-friendly local governance, waste management, improving education quality, cow protection, and Goushala management.

Out of the 11 local levels in Syangja, seven have presented their policies and programmes so far. Arjun Chaupari has already presented and passed its budget.