Mobile Phone Perks for Officials: Examining Government Communication Allowances in Koshi Province

Biratnagar. News reports claiming that the Prime Minister distributed iPhones worth approximately 200,000 rupees to ministers in the federal government caused quite a stir a few days ago.

Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which is part of the ruling coalition, responded to journalists on Sunday, stating that there was no truth to those reports.

Public debate frequently arises regarding expenditures from the state treasury for communication costs and mobile phone purchases. While the distribution of iPhones at the federal level remains a topic of discussion, the fact that provincial and local level officials and employees are legally entitled to receive mobile sets and monthly communication allowances has received little attention.

The 'Public Expenditure Standards and Austerity Guidelines 2079' of Koshi Province clearly defines the standards for communication facilities within the provincial government and its subordinate bodies. Section 6, Clause 10 of the guidelines outlines the 'Standards for Communication Expenses'.

According to the guidelines, provincial ministers, the Chief Secretary, provincial secretaries, or equivalent officials can be provided with one communication device (mobile set) costing no more than Rs. 30,000 and one postpaid SIM card.

Similarly, communication facilities for the Chief Minister, ministers, and body officials are provided as per provincial law, while the Chief Secretary, provincial secretaries, or equivalent officials are entitled to a monthly communication allowance (recharge) of up to Rs. 2,000. The guidelines also allow for a monthly communication allowance of up to Rs. 1,000 for ministry division heads, directors, or office chiefs.

Although the law paves the way for all officials and designated employees to avail of such facilities, no agency has exact data on how many government representatives and employees across the country are currently using phones provided under this scheme.

The guidelines define officials to include the Chief Minister, ministers, and the Speaker of the province, as well as elected or nominated officials and government employees. Spokespersons or information officers using SIM cards registered in the name of the office may also be provided with a monthly communication allowance of up to Rs. 1,000 based on necessity.

Although the law paves the way for all officials and designated employees to avail of such facilities, no agency has exact data on how many government representatives and employees across the country are currently using phones provided under this scheme.

Raju Prasad Guragain, Provincial Secretary at the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of Koshi Province, stated that he also uses a government-provided phone. 'I have the phone provided by the government. I use my personal phone for personal purposes. This phone is used for official purposes,' he said. He added that it is normal for other officials to receive phones just as he has.

Many municipal mayors, deputy mayors, chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, chief administrative officers, information officers, and spokespersons have been enjoying the facility of communication devices and monthly communication allowances (recharge) from government budgets.

It is reported that while the Biratnagar Metropolitan City of Morang decided to provide mobile phones to information officers, they have not yet been distributed. Arjun Thapaliya, the information officer of the municipality, said that he bought the phone he uses himself. 'The municipality made a decision to provide phones to information officers. However, they haven't provided them yet,' Thapaliya said.

Sources claim that in Belbari Municipality, mobile phones have been provided to Mayor Dil Prasad Rai, Deputy Mayor Nitu Thapa Koirala, the Chief Administrative Officer, and the Accounting Officer from the municipality's own resources. According to sources in Kanepokhari Rural Municipality, the vice-chairperson and some employees have been provided with government phones.