Kathmandu, 17 Sep: The government has prepared to move the vehicles, various machines, equipment, and furniture from the Singha Durbar premises that were completely damaged by fire and are unusable to the International Conference Centre in New Baneshwor.
A secretary-level meeting publicized 21-point proposed decisions and provided this information.
It has been decided that from there, the process of immediate auction and destruction will be moved forward according to the procedure specified by the Economic Procedures and Financial Responsibility Act and its regulations. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Urban Development have stated they will arrange to move the items from the Singha Durbar premises to the International Conference Centre in Baneshwor.
Employees will not receive meeting allowances
Similarly, it has been decided that in the current difficult circumstances, to bring frugality to public expenditure, no government employee will receive a meeting allowance.
It has also been decided to request that all national-level programs such as conferences, seminars, workshops, and interactions be organized or caused to be organized in government buildings and halls, and that provincial and local levels also be requested to do the same.
21 Proposed Decisions from the Secretary-Level Meeting dated 2082 Bhadra 31(16 Sep):
1. Condolences and Sympathy for Losses
Unimaginable and irreparable loss of life and property occurred during the protest demonstrations and movements led by the youth on 2082 Bhadra 23 and 24 in Kathmandu and various other places in the country. We express heartfelt tributes to all the persons who lost their lives in this incident and deep condolences to the grieving families. Furthermore, we wish for the swift recovery of those injured in the incident.
2. Commitment to Elections
In the context of the responsibility given to the current interim government formed on 2082 Bhadra 27 in the wake of this movement to hold the election for the House of Representatives by the upcoming Falgun 21, we express our commitment that all civil servants will actively participate in conducting the general election in a clean, fair, and fear-free environment within the stipulated time.
3. Ensure Essential Services
In this difficult situation, concerned bodies must immediately make necessary arrangements to prevent the disruption of essential services directly affecting the public, such as education, drinking water, health treatment, public transport, food grain and medicine supply, telephone, electricity, and administration of justice.
4. Temporary Office Arrangements
As many office buildings have been severely damaged during the protests, making it impossible to carry out regular work, such government offices shall establish temporary offices as per the situation, transfer to other government offices, or rent houses and commence their regular work.
5. Assess Damage and Plan Recovery
Related ministries/bodies will prepare a detailed account of the actual damage and losses caused by arson and vandalism during the protests on 2082 Bhadra 23 and 24, including physical structures, machinery equipment, vehicles, furniture, and information systems. Furthermore, a detailed work plan for addressing the damage will be prepared, and the concerned ministries/bodies will immediately begin work.
6. Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA)
The National Planning Commission will advance the Post-Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) of damaged structures in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
7. Expedite Reconstruction and Procurement
The reconstruction, repair, maintenance, and goods procurement of damaged structures in this difficult situation will be immediately advanced as per the provisions of the existing Public Procurement Act and Regulations. If the existing Act and Regulations are seen as hindering swift and simple procurement, the process of amending the Act and Regulations will be immediately advanced by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and the Public Procurement Monitoring Office.
8. Manage Destroyed Assets from Singha Durbar
Vehicles completely damaged by fire and rendered unusable, and various machinery, equipment, and furniture destroyed by fire or vandalism during the arson and vandalism in the Singha Durbar complex on 2082 Bhadra 24 will be temporarily piled up in the area behind the International Conference Centre, New Baneshwor. The process of immediate auction and destruction will be advanced from there as per the procedure specified by the Economic Procedures and Financial Responsibility Act and Regulations. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Urban Development will arrange to move these destroyed vehicles, equipment, and furniture from the Singha Durbar complex to the International Conference Centre, New Baneshwor.
9. Austerity Measures: Meeting Allowances and Venues
Implement austerity in public expenditure during the current difficult situation. No employee of the Government of Nepal shall receive a meeting allowance. All national-level programs such as conferences, seminars, workshops, and interactions organized by offices shall be held in government buildings and halls. The provincial and local levels will also be requested to do the same.
10. Halt Small Projects, Reallocate Funds
All ministries and bodies shall not implement projects with small budget allocations in the current fiscal year (fragmented projects) for which liabilities have not been created. The budget allocated for such projects will be reallocated/transferred for the reconstruction, repair, and maintenance of damaged structures and the purchase of machinery and equipment.
11. Prioritize Domestic Products in Procurement
In the purchase of goods such as furniture that need to be newly bought after being destroyed during the movement, priority will be given to and domestic products will be purchased.
12. Streamline Public Service Processes
As desired by the Gen-Z youth, standards, procedures, and manuals seen as obstacles to making public service flow and decision-making processes efficient, economical, and effective will be immediately abolished or the amendment process will be advanced.
13. Fill Vacant Staff Positions
If there are vacant staff positions in offices that must provide direct service flow to citizens, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration will immediately fill the posts upon request from the concerned office.
14. Manage Festive Season Supply and Transport
In the context of upcoming festivals, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies will ensure the easy supply of essential materials like food grains for the people, control black marketing, and conduct market monitoring. Furthermore, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport will manage public transportation to facilitate festival-targeted travel.
15. Reduce Staff Positions by 20%
The staff positions in ministries, commissions, secretariats, and offices of the Government of Nepal will be reduced by an average of 20%, and the revised staffing structure will be presented to the Government of Nepal Council of Ministers for approval by 2082 Ashwin 20.
16. Restructure Government Bodies
The process of abolishing, merging, and transferring government structures/bodies deemed unnecessary will be immediately advanced by the Secretary overseeing the Governmental Sector at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in coordination with the concerned ministries.
17. Form Task Force for Vehicle Management
A task force will be formed with the Secretary overseeing the Governmental Sector at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers as the coordinator, and including the Urban Development Secretary, the Physical Infrastructure and Transport Secretary, and the Revenue Secretary to facilitate the regular work of various ministries, bodies, and security agencies and bring ease in service flow. This task force will manage and arrange vehicles.
18. Review Singha Durbar Access Passes
Ministries and bodies within Singha Durbar will cancel unnecessarily issued entry passes. Furthermore, new entry passes can be issued only in essential situations.
19. Reissue Destroyed Performance Appraisal Forms
As the performance appraisal forms of some employees were destroyed in office fires, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration will advance the necessary process for re-filling and evaluating performance appraisal forms as per the provisions in the Civil Service Act and Regulations. If collected asset details are also burned, the body responsible for collecting such details will inform the concerned person/officials to re-fill and submit the asset details.
20. Thanks and Morale Boost for Civil Servants
Hearty thanks are extended to the civil servants who work day and night to provide services without being distracted even in uncomfortable situations. We will work with high morale in the coming days to provide services more effectively and swiftly, thereby increasing citizens’ trust in the government.
21. Public Appeal for Return of Looted Goods
A public appeal will be made for the return of goods stolen/looted from various government bodies, institutions, and private homes and business establishments during the demonstrations to the concerned body or the nearest police post.
