Eight VDC secretaries in the district have remained jobless while people in many villages across districts are unable to access government services due to the absence of the local body officials.

Local authorities said the problem was created after the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development could not transfer officials that were not required in the district.

Earlier in 2014, 10 VDCs merged to Pokhara Sub-Metropolis and another one VDC in Lekhnath Municipality in 2014. This made some VDC secretaries jobless while the ministry sent Kabita Aryal, a VDC secretary in Kapilvastu, to the district on depute.

“Though Aryal is supposed to receive salary from Kapilvastu, the ministry asked us to pay her in Kaski,” a DDC official said, adding that they are now facing difficulties paying the additional VDC secretaries.

Arbabijaya VDC Secretary Rabi Mohan Sapkota has been left jobless at the DDC after his area was merged with the sub-metropolis. He said he cannot leave the district due to poor health condition.

“VDC secretaries are left jobless and they are only receiving salary here,” a source said. These additional VDC secretaries, who neither have any office space nor responsibilities, spend their days talking to people at local shops and open areas.

Arjun Bhandari, a VDC secretary, said they are made redundant as they were not transferred on time. DDC Officer Kirtanraj Paudel said they receive salaries for only 32 secretaries working for total 32 VDCs in the district.

Authorities say the problem was created as the concerned ministry could not transfer VDC secretaries not required in the district