New Government Unveils Its Policies And Programmes Focusing On Good Governance

Kathmandu, May 12: The budget session of the federal parliament began on Monday.

In line with Nepal's parliamentary tradition, the government's policies and programmes were announced in the federal parliament and the deliberation is beginning on it in the House of Representatives meeting today.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah tabled the government's policies and programmes for the fiscal year 2083/84 in a joint meeting of the federal parliament. President Ramchandra Paudel read out the document as per Article 95 of the Constitution of Nepal.

The government had made public the 100-point action plan to be accomplished in 100 days. Citizen-friendly services are major focus of the reform. Even a blueprint on governance reform was made public immediately after the first Cabinet meeting. It is now under implementation.

The commoners have started feeling the change with government activities targeting better public service.

Whether it was the office related to labour or transportation, health, and education, public complaints were rife in the past. Reports have come that most of such offices have ensured hassle-free and timely public service lately. It is evidently credited to the government's reform plan. Accountability on the part of civil employees has direct bearing to satisfaction of service seekers.

Similarly, the government has put in place the provision of employees' performance to be evaluated based on result, thereby making it measurable. It is expected to make every employee accountable to individual duties/performance, catering to the needs of citizens and the state. Even the indicators of employees' performance have been set linking the service to citizens' satisfaction.

Quick and effective address of public complaint management has further ensured results in addition to contributing to transparency.

Formation of high-powered Asset Investigation Commission under the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has begun works. The slowed public procurement process caused by the law has been ended with amendment to the Public Procurement Act. Adoption of digital system for procurement is further aimed to simplifying work procedure, thereby maintaining transparency and competition.

Digital platform for procedural ease
Promotion of entrepreneurship and improved investment environment are other focus on economic front, while easy and prompt registration of industries is a welcome initiative for entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts. The impractical provisions in the related laws and policies have been wiped out to simplify administrative procedure like tax payment. Use of digital platforms is prioritized here as well. The digital platform further ends the compulsion of industrialists to run from pillars to post to receive government services like registration and closure of an industry/company.

The 100-point reform agenda and subsequent measures put in place so far has signaled meaningful change in service with raising hopes among citizens. The government brought the policies and programmes aligning these very issues it had forwarded earlier.

The policies and programmes for the fiscal year, 2083/84, have also underlined quality changes in public service along with policy reforms. Good governance and economic transparency are equally vital. Structural reforms have been aimed for forwarding nation's journey to prosperity.

This policies and programmes document aims to restructure the economy, which has been in crisis since the past, and start a new phase of economic upgrading through this. The document this time has aimed at making economic departure, long expected in the country. The administrative restructuring advanced together is to prop up the economic reforms.

The remote work policy, skill passports for youth returning from foreign employment, the declaration of 2083 to 2093 BS as the Employment Promotion Decade are some special features of the policies and programmes to elevate individual and national economy. Investment visa is another new feature.

Production of 30,000 MW of electricity in coming decade, declaration of IT sector as a national strategic industry for good governance and national income, introduction of AI and modern technology from the very school level, promotion of spiritual tourism through the Devbhumi Nepal National Campaign with the links among major religious sites Pashupatinath, Lumbini, Janakpurdham and Muktinath as part of spiritual pilgrimage diplomacy are worth noting schemes.