Government Sets Deadline for Ministry O&M Surveys

Kathmandu. The government has set a deadline of coming June 21 for the merged and newly formed ministries to complete their Organization and Management (O&M) surveys in accordance with the 'Government of Nepal (Work Allocation) Regulations, 2083'.

The government has put forward a policy to cut administrative expenses and streamline service delivery, allowing secretaries to have only one officer and one office aide, prohibiting assistant staff for joint secretaries, and not creating new vacancies for the 'Computer Operator' post.

A task force led by Secretary Govinda Karki, who oversees governance reforms at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, has prepared guidelines for the O&M survey for the implementation of the Government of Nepal (Work Allocation) Regulations, 2083. The task force included Finance Secretary Ghanashyam Upadhyay, Secretary of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration Chandrakala Poudel, Secretary of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Parashwar Dhungana, and Infrastructure Development Secretary Gopal Prasad Sigdel. The deadline of June 21, 2083, has been set for all ministries to complete their O&M surveys to eliminate duplication created by the merger of ministries.

The guidelines state that no new permanent recruitment will be made for any vacant positions, and no new vacancies will be created for non-gazetted (Naib Subba and below) positions in ministries and central bodies. It has been advised to merge departments and sections with similar work natures to make them agile and to cut down on the perks of secretaries.

Accordingly, the secretary's secretariat will have only two staff members: one officer and one office aide. Similarly, the policy of not having a personal assistant vacancy for ministry section chiefs (joint secretaries) is included in the guidelines.

Mandating technology-based work processes, the government has adopted a policy of not creating new vacancies for the 'Computer Operator' post from now on. The task force concluded that separate operators are not necessary as basic computer skills have become mandatory for all non-gazetted and third-class gazetted (officer) level employees.

To reduce paperwork, the task force has also suggested prioritizing digital file systems and online service delivery, creating a flexible structure where a single employee can perform more than one role, and placing excess staff in 'pool vacancies' to be matched elsewhere as needed.

The 18-point suggestions of the task force have been sent to all ministries by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers for implementation. On May 25, Branch Officer Susana Sharma signed and sent a letter titled 'Regarding Implementation of Decision'.

Spokesperson of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Joint Secretary Hemraj Aryal, informed that the 18 points prepared by the five-secretary task force have been sent to all ministries for implementation. 'It is an internal circular, not for public release; we have sent the 18-point suggestions from the task force for implementation,' said Spokesperson Aryal, 'Implementation is necessary, and information about the work being done as per the circular has been received by the office.'