KATHMANDU, March 12: Over 40 civil servants have disobeyed government decision to depute them at the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) at a time when the reconstruction and rehabilitation tasks have been delayed by nearly one year since the devastating earthquake of last April.
The officials didn’t turn up at the NRA even though it has already been 10 days since the Ministry for General Administration asked them to start serving at the newly-formed body.
Among those disobeying the ministry’s decision include five joint secretaries, one under secretary, 10 section officers, four engineers, seven non-gazetted officers, one accountant, one assistant officer, four computer operators and eight drivers.
Of the total nine joint secretaries deputed by the ministry at the NRA, only four have started serving there so far. Other five joint secretaries — Satrughan Prasad Pudasaini, Sushil Pandey, Ananda Ram Regmi, Kul Prasad Chudal and Rabi Bhattarai are yet to assume their office.
Similarly, under secretary Dhurba Gaida is yet to assume the office.
“Instead of assuming office, the five joint secretaries have taken leave from the day they were deputed at the NRA. As a result, the authority has still not been able to complete its necessary preparatory works that are the prerequisite for beginning the overall task of reconstruction and rehabilitation in the earthquake-affected districts,” said Suresh Adhikari, spokesperson of the NRA.
The NRA has not been able to set up its seven regional offices in the quake-affected districts though it decided to establish the offices in January as the joint secretaries and other officials did not assume the office, which has only hindered the already-delayed task of reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Sources at the NRA said that the deputed top officials who are yet to take charge of their new responsibilities have shown insensitiveness toward the task of reconstruction by disobeying the ministry’s decision. According to the NRA authorities, the defiant officials are rather busy looking for lucrative positions at other ministries and government offices.
“The joint secretaries have been reportedly reluctant to join NRA fearing that they have to work for long hours without having additional financial gains. And they have been searching for other postings where they can earn hefty money,” said a senior official at the NRA, who did not want to be named.
“Senior officials often prefer to be deputed as Chief District Officer of certain districts or any similar position that would help them later in their promotion, whereas working at the NRA would be of little help for their promotion. This has only hindered the national task of reconstruction,” said the official.
In order to attract the officials, the NRA last week had decided to provide all the deputed officials with allowances equal to their salaries.
The Ministry of General Administration has also been reluctant to take any action against the deputed officials who are disobeying the ministry’s decision.
“It is the responsibility of the ministry to ensure if the deputed officials join their respective office or not. The ministry should immediately take action against such disobeying officials,” said Kashi Raj Dahal, chairman of the Administrative Court.
He said it was unfortunate for senior officials to look for lucrative postings instead of joining the NRA to expedite the reconstruction works in the most-affected districts where hundreds of thousands of quake victims have been living pathetic life under flimsy huts.
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