KATHMANDU, March 25: For all 77 districts of the country, there exists a provision for appointing an employee of the under-secretary level as the District Coordination Committee (DCC) Officer. However, in over 80 percent of these districts, under-secretaries are reluctant to take up the position of DCC Officer. Consequently, lower-level employees have assumed the responsibilities of DCC Officer in the majority of districts. Moreover, many districts have not fulfilled their staffing quotas, with some employing less than half of the required workforce.

Several under-secretaries, unwilling to go outside of Kathmandu, have settled in three districts within the valley due to the unavailability of appealing office placements.

Likewise, under-secretaries have been dispatched to urban districts such as Morang, Kaski, and Rupandehi. Apart from that, lower-level employees have been actively overseeing operations in the majority of the districts.

As a result, the DCCs, tasked with coordinating local-level activities and monitoring development projects within the district, have become merely a formality. This situation has arisen due to inadequate budgetary allocations and staff shortages.

Kamal Bhattarai, spokesperson and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA), said that a significant number of District Coordination Committees (DCCs) are reluctant to employ under-secretaries due to budgetary constraints and program limitations. That is why, there is a substantial shortage of staff within the DCCs.

An under-secretary from the MoFAGA said, "Due to the lack of budget and programs in the DCCs, there is no enthusiasm among employees to be stationed there." Furthermore, even if they are assigned to the DCCs, they often face transfers to other offices within two to three months.”

According to some employees, those preparing for the Public Service Commission (PSC) exam prefer to be stationed at the DCCs. This is because the workload is lighter, allowing ample time to focus on exam preparation. There is a provision in the law that DCC coordinators are elected from local people's representatives, while DCC officers are appointed by the federal government.

The constitution has given the DCCs the responsibility to facilitate coordination among the central, provincial, and local levels. Additionally, the Local Government Operation Act of 2074 BS has granted the DCCs the authority to convene training sessions, seminars, and conferences involving local-level officials. However, many DCCs have failed to exercise the rights bestowed upon them by the constitution. While a handful of DCCs have organized a limited number of training and seminar programs, the majority have neglected to do so.

A senior official of the MoFAGA says that there is still confusion regarding the tenure and role of District Coordination Committees. The official stated, "While the constitution grants the DCCs the authority to coordinate and monitor, there are no clear guidelines regarding their duration of service." This lack of clarity has led to confusion among stakeholders.

Previously, the DDCs were established in place of the District development committees (DDCs). During that period, the government also instituted a livelihood fund to support employment opportunities. By the time the DDCs were dissolved, the fund had amassed about Rs 6 billion. However, in the context of DCCs, officials lament the absence of a similar fund.  

Presently, the DCCs have been established in all 77 districts of Nepal. As per the Constitution of Nepal, each DCC comprises nine officers, including one chief and one deputy chief.

As the office of the DCC is situated in the same building previously occupied by the District Development Committee, the DCC does not encounter challenges regarding office placement. However, the DCC grapples with confusion regarding its rights, roles, and various other matters.

 
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