Ministry sends teams to local levels to facilitate budget presentation

By Prabin Kumar Sharma

Chandrapur (Rautahat), Aug. 9:  A team from the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) held discussions in Fatuwa Bijaypur Municipality of Rautahat district on Thursday regarding the presentation of the municipal budget for the current Fiscal Year 2025/26.

According to the municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer Bharat Prasad Yadav, the team led by Under-Secretary Kali Prasad Parajuli, facilitated the process to ensure that the budget would be presented to the municipal assembly and passed by the end of Shrawan (mid-August). By mid-August, the first month of the current FY would be concluded. 

He said that a meeting decided to convene the assembly on Shrawan 30 (August 15).

Acting Mayor Ambeya Khatun said that the MoFAGA’s deployment of an under-secretary-led team to the municipality had improved coordination between the ministry and the local government.

The Parajuli-led team also held discussions with Dewahi Gonahi Municipality and Maulapur Municipality. Chief Administrative Officer of Dewahi Gonahi Dhananjay Prasad Das said that a wide-ranging discussion had taken place with the ministry’s team, involving the executive body, available members of the municipal assembly, local administration, municipal staff, and local stakeholders. 

The talks focused on holding the municipal assembly at the earliest possible date. 

The Parajuli-led team included under-secretaries Madhav Prasad Dhakal and Tulsi Bhattarai, and Section Officer Pawan Gupta.

Due to incorrect ministry records, the team also visited Maulapur Municipality, where Chief Administrative Officer Ram Babu Prasad Sah informed them that the assembly had already been held on Ashadh 10. The ministry’s website also shows that Maulapur presented its budget on Ashadh 10 and passed it on Ashadh 20 (June 24).

Similarly, a team led by Under-Secretary Prakash Dahal visited Yamunamai Rural Municipality and Madhav Narayan Municipality for discussions. In Yamunamai, discussions could not take place as the chairperson was out of the district, informed Vice-Chair Anuradha Kumari. 

In Madhav Narayan, Section Officer Prajna Dhakal said that the budget had already been presented on Ashadh 6 (June 20), as recorded on the ministry’s website, but the ministry had included its name in the list and conducted the visit.

The Dahal-led team included Section Officer Dhakal and under-secretaries Bhoj Raj Ghimire and Resham Raj Kandel.

Durga Bhagawati Rural Municipality, which has yet to hold its assembly, was not included in the ministry’s list, so no team visited there, according to Manoj Sah, Coordination Officer at the National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal (NARMIN).

Locals of Durga Bhagawati have criticised what they see as the ministry’s focus on claiming allowances for district visits rather than carrying out substantive work. Candidate for Ward Chair of Durga Bhagawati–2 Jitendra Kumar Das alleged that despite records on the ministry’s website and the association’s own records showing the assembly had not been held, no facilitation team was sent. "It indicates a deliberate oversight," he said. 

The ministry’s website shows that Katahariya Municipality, Durga Bhagawati Rural Municipality, Dewahi Gonahi Municipality, Fatuwa Bijaypur Municipality, and Yamunamai Rural Municipality have not yet presented their budgets. Likewise, Gaur Municipality, Garuda Municipality, Madhav Narayan Municipality, and Brindaban Municipality are recorded as having not passed their budgets through the assembly.

Although provision has been made for representatives from the NARMIN, the Municipal Association of Nepal, and the relevant District Coordination Committees to join the teams, only the representatives from the rural municipalities’ association were present. 

Pradeep Kumar Yadav, Coordinator of the Municipal Association of Nepal for Madhes Province, said the ministry had provided no information about the matter.

However, MoFAGA Spokesperson and team leader Parajuli said official letters had been sent to all three bodies.

The ministry mobilised three special teams led by under-secretaries under the direction of Minister Bhagwati Neupane to address the problem of local levels failing to pass their annual budgets and programmes for this year on time.