Govt to build quarters for staff

KATHMANDU, May 16: In a move likely to be applauded by civil servants, the government has decided to set up special residential quarters for its employees across the country in view of the deteriorating law and order situation.



The Ministry of General Administration (MoGA) disclosed that two ´civil servant quarters´ will be constructed in Darchula and Mahottari districts shortly under the first phase of a pilot project. [break]



The government has already decided to purchase 1 bigha 5 katthas of land in Mahottari while 16 ropanis will be purchased in Darchula under the pilot project.



The government has also allocated a budget for the civil servants´ quarters. MoGA said that Rs 20 million has been allocated for the two districts.



"Currently there are no living quarters for government employees working in various parts of the country," said State Minister for General Administration Jeetu Gautam, adding, "The government intends to provide residential quarters for all government staff eventually."



According to MoGA, there will be official living quarters for all government employees in all districts within the next five years.



"The government-sponsored official residences will provide safety to the employees," Gautam said adding, "The plan will also address the various existing problems employees are facing for lack of residential quarters."



According to complaints filed at MoGA, government employees, especially those working in the Tarai districts, have been severely affected by the problem of living quarters.



There are instances where government employees were attacked either in their residences or at the office for refusing to donate to various armed outfits operating in the Tarai. Nearly two dozen government employees have lost their lives in attacks by various armed outfits.



Likewise, nearly 2,000 VDC secretaries have been conducting their duties either from district headquarters or from home due to insecurity.



Only a few of them have been providing VDC services to the people from the respective VDCs.



Additionally, the government hopes that the official residential quarters would also create a working environment among employees.



"The residences should overcome the time, cost and road obstructions during unpredicted strikes," said Gautam. The government believes that employees can attend their offices if their living quarters are built near their offices.



Gautam also said the government is all set to announce tender calls for construction work on the residential quarters in Darchula and Mahottari.



School project at final stage



According to MoGA, the government´s plan to set up special schools for civil servants´ children is at the final stage. The government is setting up two schools at Dipayal of Doti and in Dhankuta for the children of civil servants.



"We hope that most of the work of setting up the schools in the two districts would be completed before the new fiscal year," said Gautam.



MoGA said the government has already allocated Rs 40 million for the project. “We will do the homework for establishing such schools in other areas also, depending on the budget available in the years to come,” Gautam added.

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