SURKHET, Mar 5: The absence of civil servants remains a big problem in Karnali Province, creating hurdles to running the provincial government. 

Of the 24 positions for civil servants at the province's Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Development, only five have been filled so far as only five government employees transferred to the ministry have shown up so far. Secretary Prakash Kumar Raghubanshi, along with other employees deployed at the provincial ministry by the federal Ministry of General Administration remains absent weeks after the formation of the provincial government. 

Minister Khadka Khatri, who assumed the office two weeks ago, has been insisting the presence of every employee. However, his appeal and instructions have yielded no result. 

“Most of the employees are from other provinces, which is why they are reluctant to comply with the instruction,” said Khatri, adding that the provincial government hasn't been able to move forward due to the absence of the employees. 

Secretary Raghubanshi has seven months remaining in his term. However, he has shown unwillingness to serve his remaining term. 

The Ministry of Financial Affairs and Planning has formulated action plans and submitted them to the Office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers. However, these action plans haven't moved forward due to the absence of the required human resource including the under-secretary and law secretary.

“The absence of employees has affected work in every quarter,” said an employee.

The absence of employees has hit not only these two ministries but also other ministries. The Ministry of General Administration has deployed 215 employees at the seven ministries in the province. Of them, 149 employees have not reached their offices yet. This has badly affected work at the ministries. 

Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi went to the capital Kathmandu on Sunday to hold discussions on the issue with the central government. 

“I'll be holding discussions on the absence of employees with the central government and various stakeholders. I expect immediate supply of the required employees,” said Chief Minister Shahi.

 
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