Kathmandu, May 7: Former administrators and public administration experts have welcomed the government’s recent measures aimed at improving the administrative system and strengthening good governance. They said the initiatives taken by the government are positive and could help enhance public trust in the administration.
Former Chief Secretary Bimal Koirala said such measures are capable of increasing public trust towards administrative institutions. He added that reforms in service delivery, particularly in the distribution of driving licences, citizenship certificates and passport, indicate efforts towards building a more effective system in the relevant sectors. “Such initiatives will make the government more accountable to citizens, leaving a positive impact on the good governance measures.”
The administration expert Koirala further welcomed the government’s preparations for downsizing the number of federal ministries from the existing 22 to 17.
He advised the federal government to focus on dealing with policy formulation, quality standards and monetary policies. As he said, the federal structure is required to be smart and effective, devolving rights to the province and local governments.
“Countries with federal systems have adopted measures to make the federal government smaller, and it is indeed appreciable that Nepal is trying to move towards that direction,” he opined.
He added that good governance is not just the concern of civil service administration. Instead, it has a broader scope. The reforms in administrative structures will bring positive impacts on employees’ management, transparency and accountability, according to him.
Former Chairperson of Public Service Commission, Umesh Mainali, said it is clear that the government intends to deliver in the areas of administrative reform and good governance.
“Efforts are being made to make the administration additional responsive through a shock-treatment approach,” he said.
According to former Secretary Mainali, efforts aimed at depoliticizing institutions and structures are positive. The decisions to scrap various trade unions, invalidate political appointments and reduce the influence of organisations close to party in civil service are significant steps towards administrative reforms.
Saying that a plan of making educational institutions free from political influence has been seen, he pointed out the need of decreasing political intervention in bureaucracy.
However, Mainali has some reservation on some issues related with student union. He described the preparation for reducing the number of ministries as a gesture towards the structural reforms.
Stating that the number of ministries was increased unnecessarily due to power sharing and coalition management in the past, he lauded the government’s preparations towards that end.
“There are 12 ministries in the USA and 11 in Japan. So, 22-25 ministries are not necessary in Nepal. The number of ministries should be less but more and vibrantly functional,” argued the former Secretary Mainali.
The federal government should be focused in policy making and activities enlisted in federal list, he expressed the view, adding the ministries should be functional in a long-term manner.
Describing the administration as a ‘delivery wing’, he underlined that any government could not be successful unless the bureaucracy becomes efficient and responsible.
He echoed the need for the implementation of a ‘reward and punishment system’ within the bureaucracy. He was of the view that both internal and external management reforms are necessary to motivate employees.
The former Secretary expressed the belief that the government would be successful if it creates working environment, promotion based on performance and administrative culture responsible to the people.
Expressing gratitude towards the incumbent government, Foreign Affairs Expert and Professor Jay Raj Acharya lauded the government’s efforts towards the reduction of the number of ministries, making public and educational institutions free from politics.
As he said, he had been advocating for the dissolution of student unions and the downsizing number of ministers for years and the government has now moved towards addressing these issues.
