No secretary has submitted the “innovative implementation” plan for the government’s policies and programmes for the next fiscal year as sought by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. He had asked them to present their strategies by June 29.

On June 8, PM Oli held a meeting with deputy prime ministers, ministers, vice-chairman and members of the National Planning Commission and secretaries, asking the top bureaucrats to submit their plans to Chief Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi. It was decided then that each secretary would make a presentation on July 9 of their respective plans for implementation of specific programmes and policies.

Three days before the submission deadline, none of the government secretaries has communicated their ideas. “I have not received a single plan of action,” said Regmi. This shows the top bureaucrats’ apathy for effective implementation of the annual programmes.

Addressing the June 8 meeting, PM Oli had stressed that people have huge expectations from the government that commands an overwhelming majority in Parliament. He had said that the new government would not be excused for not translating its commitments into action. The PM had reminded the top officials that time had come for all to act in a serious way, “with sheer determination and long term thought and vision”.

Asked about their progress, most secretaries said they were working as instructed by the PM. They, however, failed to say when the strategies would be ready for presentation. “It’s too early to conclude that the bureaucracy is unsupportive of the government. But we need to know how serious the secretaries are about the PM’s instruction,” said PM’s Press Advisor Kundan Aryal.

In the meeting, the PM had also categorically told the top officials that time had come to change the old development model. He had called for a fresh determination for accomplishing the set goals.

Another aide to the PM said the lack of work would hit implementation of the government’s plans, policies and even the annual budget.