As the local bodies in the new set up come up with huge authority of local governance unlike in the past where they merely worked as government’s service delivery units, the government has decided to provide an intensive orientation to the chiefs and deputy chiefs on their authorities and responsibilities within a month. 

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development as the liaison ministry will hold the orientation in the first week of June in Province-3 of Kathmandu, Province-4 of Pokhara and Province-6 of Jumla.

The Ministry has selected 60 experts which includes retired secretaries, experts from education, health, governance and information, communication and technology.

According Dinesh Thapaliya, secretary at the Ministry, the orientation will be held on governance, decentralisation and resource mobilisation.

Similarly, the elected chiefs and deputy chiefs accompanied by the secretary or executive head from the respective village councils and municipalities will also get orientation on their responsibilities and authorities.

“The Constitution of Nepal has given huge authority to the local representatives. Through the orientation they will be imparted with knowledge on different facets of local governance,” Thapaliya told the Post. 

A total of 566 chiefs and deputy chiefs and 283 executive heads of the municipalities or metropolis or secretaries of the village councils will take part in the training in the first phase. Thapaliya said the three-day orientation also includes development planning, process on budget formulation and endorsement, good governance and code of conduct of the elected representatives.