JUMLA, Feb 16: After the successful completion of the local elections conducted for the first time in 20 years, the locals were expecting a sea change in governance. However, even after almost a year after the elections, they lament that the new government under a federal setup has failed to impress the people so far.
The formation of local government has not benefited the locals living in rural parts as they still have to reach to the district headquarters even for minor problems. Though the locals were assured that they will be able to make their legal documents in their own wards, not everyone have been able to benefit from it. Three out of ten ward offices of Chandannath Municipality are located in the district headquarters. As stated by most of the locals, there has been no difference in service after the federal setup. Instead, some lament that they have been obliged to go through more hassles now.
Singha Durbar in villages still a far-fetched dream
Locals of ward no 2 and 3 of Chandannath have time and again expressed their disappointment toward the local authorities for fixing their ward offices in ward 4. It may been easier for the local administration to pay the rent of the building by keeping all the offices in the same ward but it has been a great disadvantage to the service seekers.
On the other hand, ward chiefs claim that this has not been possible as some wards lack proper buildings and infrastructures required for office. "We are ready to shift our office to our own wards but at first we need to find suitable buildings along with other infrastructures," said Dhanrashi Bhandari, chief of ward 2. Similarly, Nanda Bahadur Budha Thapa, chief of ward 4, informed that efforts have been made to set ward office in their own wards within this fiscal year.
Chandannath Municipality is just an example as there are so many local units which have created their contact office in the district headquarters.
