Miscellaneous
Two dozen obsolete govt offices closed in districts
Several government offices at the district level have been closed after the country adopted federal set-up. According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, around two dozen government offices across 77 districts of the country have been rendered obsolete in line with the Local Government Operation Act 2017.Several government offices at the district level have been closed after the country adopted federal set-up. According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, around two dozen government offices across 77 districts of the country have been rendered obsolete in line with the Local Government Operation Act 2017.
The Legislature Parliament had endorsed the Act after local units came into operation following the successful conclusion of provincial and local level elections.
According to the ministry, offices at the district level related to agriculture development, livestock service, cottage and small scale industries, land management, survey and revenue, drinking water, land conservation, public health, division cooperative, and several projects run by the government have been decommissioned.
The Act has enabled the local bodies to manage teachers, staff and education up to the basic level-Grade 8-and oversee basic medical care.
The local legislature also has the power to formulate local laws in line with the Act drafts provided by the centre while the local judiciary can decide cases related to irrigation, daily wages and pastures, among others.
The Act has also authorised the smallest units among three tiers of the government to set up their own city police force, issue land ownership certificates and collect revenue on properties, besides registering births, deaths and marriages.
Likewise, they are allowed to levy the taxes on house rent, entertainment, property, tourism, among others, in compliance with the tax laws of the Central and Provincial governments.
“A majority of offices at the district level have been done away with since the Local Government Operation Act states that district offices would be removed within six months of ratification of the Act,” Rudra Singh Tamang, spokesperson at the General Administration Ministry told the Post, adding that most of the offices are in the process of handing over their authority to the concerned agencies. “Some of the authorities will require law in the local level to function. Hence, it is a process that has just stared.”