The portal will help strengthen the country’s database system and track the performance of government agencies even at local levels.

PM Oli inaugurated the web portal http://nationaldata.gov.np/ in an event on April 28, 2019. The National Planning Commission and the Nepal Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) jointly developed the web portal, which according to NPC is a part of the government’s efforts to maintain a comprehensive database for its planning and monitoring activities.

Speaking at the event, CBS Director Suman Aryal said that the government aims to increase the country’s access to its overall statistics under one platform with this move.

“Integrating the data of all the seven provinces and 753 local governments with the central government, increasing access to the national data system and monitoring and evaluation are among the major three aspects of the portal,” said Aryal.

The platform helps users to search data of each local government, separately. According to CBS, users can get access to the portal through two gateways – geographic and thematic.

Aryal said that the bureau had planned to integrate the data of government bodies in the common website by mid-July 2019.

“We have been devising the working guideline and will provide training to officials of all government bodies by mid-May,” said Aryal.

Currently, the government maintains records under 100 different categories and 1,100 sub-indicators. National Planning Commission Secretary Laxman Aryal said that this portal will also assist the government in developing an effective budget transfer mechanism.

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Lack of the required legislations are causing difficulties in executing day-to-day duties.

In its first Inter-Province Council (IPC) meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) at Kathmandu on December 09, 2018, Province CMs met to express their concerns over absence of adequate autonomy and required civil servants in their respective provinces.

Province 1 CM Sher Dhan Rai, Province 2 Lal Babu Raut, Province 3 Dor Mani Paudel and Province 4 Prithvi Subba Gurung were present at the PMO.

On the other hand, Province 5 CM Shankar Pokharel, Karnali Province and Sudur Paschim Trilochan Bhatta are scheduled to meet the PM regarding the same on December 10, 2018.

Besides the aforementioned officials, the important meeting is seeing the participation of all ministries secretaries and other senior government officials.

Province 2 CM Raut shared with the press that they have informed PM Oli about the various problems due to lack of the federal government’s cooperation.

“We put emphasis on formulating necessary laws, adjustment of civil servants and coordination between the federal and provincial governments,” he said.

Provincial Public Service Commission
The delay in the introduction of the Federal Civil Service Act and the Federal Police Act has led to the formation of the Provincial Public Service Commission created by provincial governments to hire civil servants and deploy provincial police organization.

Raut informed that PM Oli said these problems have surfaced since federalism is a new exercise in Nepal.

“The PM has asked us to work together with the federal government to resolve the problems seen in the implementation of federalism,” he said.

Problems Discussed by CMs
Province 1: According to sources, Province 1 CM Rai complained that the lack of a Provincial Public Service Commission and coordination between federal governments disabled provincial governments in executing day-to-day business, effectively.

Province 4: Likewise, Province 4 CM Gurung asked the federal government to grant provincial governments the authority to collect taxes. Additionally, he also demanded for a secretariat to ensure coordination between the two government levels and provide civil servants to the provinces.

Province 2 was among other provinces, which were agitated over extreme delay on formulation of the Federal Police Act and went a step ahead by recruiting civil servants on a contract basis.

Overall, the meeting discussed issues such as policy-making, formulation of laws, natural resources distribution and human resource management among others.

Speaking at the meeting PM Oli said, since federalism was a new concept in Nepal, provincial CMs should learn from their experience so far and join the process of strengthening Nepal’s federalism.

He also assured the CMs that the necessary federal laws will come into play by mid-March through the winter-season of the federal parliament.

“The office of the chief ministers, offices of the provincial ministers and their residences were not even in our imagination until some time ago. We may have experienced some difficulties while addressing several of such issues,” Oli said.

“No one becomes a champion immediately after joining a game. He becomes a champion as he continues playing. Federalism is a similar game for us. But we will come out as champions,” he added.

The post Inter Province Council Held to Address Provincial Government Issues appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

This report was collated by Nepal Ministry of Health and Population, its health partners and the WHO Country Office by extracting excerpts from some previous health policies and strategies which include the National Health Policy – 2014, Nepal Health Sector Strategy (2015-20) and international commitments made by Nepal Government.

These health statistics are important as they come at a time when Nepal is on the pathway to establishing political stability.

They determine the recently established Federal Government’s effectiveness in ensuring quality healthcare through the implementation of awareness programs, provision of quality drugs and collaboration with key health stakeholders.

Following are the findings of the report:

• Nepal’s life expectancy rate is steadily increasing. The life expectancy in 2011 stood at 65 years in comparison with 55 years two decades ago. The statistics indicate a 3.5-year increase for every 10 years since 2000
• The country’s progress in reducing maternal and child deaths has been internationally acknowledged, especially because the South-East Asian region records the highest maternal mortality rate
• Nepal is one of the six countries in the given region to have achieved the targeted MDG of ‘four’ in terms of infant mortality rate
• In the last two decades, child mortality in Nepal has been reduced by 72% and maternal mortality by 52%
• Instances of Polio, Leprosy (at the national level), Trachoma have been eliminated, while the country is also on track to completely eradicate Kala Azar and Lymphatic Filariasis
• There are significant achievements in reducing HIV and TB instances in the country
• Nepal is on track to achieve Malaria-free status by 2025
• The country’s population was about 26 million in 2011 and is expected to exceed 33 billion by 2030
• The ‘under-five’ infant mortality rate declined over the last couple of decades from 1000 live births to 21 in 2016
• The maternal mortality ratio decreased from 100000 to 239 in 2016
• The neonatal mortality rate decreased from 50 in 1991 to 33 in 2011

Nepal-WHO Strategy for 2018-2022:
Despite these motivating numbers, the Himalayan nation has a long way to go in dealing with its health issues. In this regard, the Nepal Health Secretary, Nepal Health and Population Ministry senior management and the WHO regional office sat together to prepare a four-point strategy that the WHO will implement over the next 5 years to secure its hold over the ever-cropping health issues.

1) Advancing universal health coverage in a federalized governance structure
2) Effective delivery of priority public health programs
3) Enhance health security and disaster preparedness and response
4) Multisectoral engagement and partnerships for improved health outcomes

We hope that Nepal Government with support from WHO and key health representatives will be able to achieve it health goals within the stipulated time frame.

The post Nepal-WHO Country Report 2018-22: Positive Outlook for Nepal Health Sector appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Under the national budget for FY 2018-19, the government has allocated nearly Rs 400 billion budget to 760 governments including 753 local units and seven provincial governments, with Rs 113.43 billion for provincial bodies and Rs 308.48 billion for local bodies.

All the seven provinces of Nepal presented their budgets for FY 2018-19 on June 15, 2018:

Province 1: With a budgetary allocation of Rs 35.936 billion, the Province 1 government prioritized development in agriculture, tourism and infrastructure development, among other areas. Province 1 allotted high budget for infrastructure sector at Rs 9.50 billion, followed by Rs 2.74 billion for forest, environment, sanitation & drinking water, and Rs 1.3 billion for industrial development.

Province 2:  Province 2 made a budgetary allocation of Rs 29.7838 billion. Out of the total budget, it allotted Rs 1 billion in conditional grants to local bodies, Rs 1.44 billion in grants for farmers, nearly Rs 300 million for the upgradation of Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital, Narayani Sub-regional Hospital and Janakpur Zonal Hospital, and Rs 10 million for the upgradation of Saptari’s Rupani Police Hospital into a Trauma center.

Province 3: With a budget of Rs 35.61 billion for FY 2018-19, the Province 3 Government managed to allot Rs 1 billion for distribution among 119 local levels and Rs 3.63 billion for various other projects across the local levels.

Province 4: With a total budget of Rs 24 billion for FY 2018-19, the Province 4 Government is aiming to achieve 8 percent rise in provincial income annually, and at 2500 US dollar per capita income. Construction of fast tracks from Korala to Pokhara and from Pokhara to Dumkibas are among other key projects.

Province 5: The Province 5 Government presented a Rs 28.9 billion budget with Rs 11.46 billion as administrative expenditure and Rs 16.62 billion as capital expenditure.

Province 6: Out of total budget of Rs 28.282 billion, the Province 6 Government has set aside Rs 400 million for financial management, Rs 1.20 billion for People’s Road Programme across seven constituencies, Rs 1.28 billion rupees for road connectivity among districts and connection with other provinces, and Rs 20 billion for various projects to be developed under Center’s assistance, private sector and donor agencies.

Province 7: Out of the total allocation of Rs 25.6 billion, the Province 7 Government allotted Rs 5 billion for infrastructure development, Rs 20 crore and Rs 10 crore separately for provincial bus operation and Hydro Power Development Board establishment, respectively, and additional budget for development across key sectors such as self-employment, tourism, agriculture, construction, security and social development.

Now, let’s take a look at the budgetary allocations across local bodies:

Kathmandu Metropolitan City
While majority of the 753 local governments have already announced their budgets, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) recently made it public its budget for the fiscal on June 25, 2018, touching a Rs 13.02 billion mark.

Presenting the budget, KMC Deputy Mayor Hariprabha Khadgi announced Rs 13.02 billion for the municipal assembly and Rs 3.06 billion for infrastructure development across wards.

Out of various other minor projects, the feasibility study and detailed project report for the development of monorail, electric bus, e-toilet and Sky Bridge received major push in the allocation.

Bharatpur Metropolitan City
Meanwhile, Bharatpur Metropolitan City (BMC) made a budgetary allocation of Rs.  3.34 billion for development across its internal regions.

With an 81-point list of special programs, BMC Mayor Renu Dahal allotted Rs 1.62 billion as capital expenditure and Rs 1.7 billion as recurrent expenditure.

With key areas on developmental priority, BMC is looking at Rs 556 million revenue collection in FY 2018-19.

As part of the developmental agenda, the metropolis declared Metropolis Ring Road and link road as ‘Metropolitan City Pride Project’, which is going to be initiated very soon.

An international-standard cricket stadium, sky bridges in three main areas of the metropolis and an entertainment park at Narayani River bank are among other development, says Dahal.

Birgunj Metropolitan City
With an internal revenue collection target of Rs 595 million, Birgunj Metropolitan presented a budget of Rs 4.94 billion for FY 2018-19.

The Metropolis has allotted Rs 2.61 billion of the total budget to the projects assisted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In the next fiscal, Birgunj is also planning a special program called ‘Prosperity of Birgunj’ for overall development and another initiative called ‘Local Tax for Local Development’ for raising tax revenues.

Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City
With a total budgetary allocation of Rs 6.53 billion, the Pokara Leknath Metropolitan has various local plans as part of its developmental agenda.

Some of the key projects on priority include: Preservation of Phewa and Begnas Lake, development of Phewa Lake Drainage Division, a feasibility study of Phewa-Begnas Monorail, development of seven local locations as modern agriculture pocket areas, laying of underground power cables,  construction of a tourist bus park, metro buildings, 30 connecting roads and Phirke corridor ring road.

For all these projects, the Metropolitan will raise Rs 4.33 billion revenue from external sources and Rs1.69 billion from internal sources, says Mayor Man Bahadur GC.

Biratnagar Metropolitan City
Under a budget of Rs 4.47 billion, the Biratnagar Metropolitan has allotted Rs 336.8 million for recurrent expenditure and Rs 3.25 billion for physical infrastructure, followed by Rs 200 million for social security allowance, says the Deputy Mayor Indira Karki.

Lalitpur Metropolitan City
Though the budget was not presented to the municipal assembly, the Lalitpur Metropolitan is looking at a budgetary allocation of Rs 4.7 billion for FY 2018-19, informed the Metropolis Executive Officer Hari Prasad Dahal.

In Total
In line with the Federal Budget, the local and provincial governments also gave top priority to infrastructure development across various sectors.

Besides the allotted Rs 400 billion budget, an additional Rs 20 billion has also been added as complementary and special grants to both the governments.

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