JUMLA, Jan 25: Elected members of Gothichaur Rural Municipality of Jumla have courted controversy by spending huge amount from the state coffers for India visit at a time when the locals are struggling with problems of drinking water, health and educational facilities.
A team comprising of the elected members and staff of the municipality are currently in India for observing the development of Sikkim and Darjeeling. They have reportedly used a budget of Rs 1.1 million for the trip which was allocated for the rural municipality.
Venting their ire against the unnecessary trip, the locals have accusing them of fulfilling their vested interests by misusing the government funds meant for the locals.
After the local elections, people were hopeful of experiencing the facilities of Singha Durbar at their own locality. However, they lament that the elections only benefited the members of political parties. They accuse the elected representatives of imposing an authoritarian rule instead of thinking about the welfare of the people.
A team of 27 staff led by the chairperson of the rural municipality Hari Bahadur Bhandari has left for India to “study” federalism.
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"They have gone for an official visit to Sikkim and Darjeeling as well as various parts of Nepal by using the government funds," said Ishwori Prasad Devkota, a local. According to him, it is too early for the elected members to think about themselves when the locals are struggling for drinking water, sanitation, health and education.
With the objective of observing the development of Sikkim and Darjeeling, Chairperson Bhandari, Vice- Chairperson Jandevi Aidi, executive officer of the rural municipality Keshavraj Sharma, four ward chiefs, ward secretaries and ward members have left for their destination in the 10-day trip paralyzing the works at the local bodies. As the representatives have left for a ten-day trip, the locals won't be able to get any kind of legal and administrative service until they return.
"After observing other places, we will be implementing those plans in our own local unit," Ward Chief Jagga Prasad Jaisi said.
However, this decision has drawn flak from the locals. Some have even started doubting the motives of the people's representatives. They have urged the representatives to rather use the money for fulfilling the basic needs of the people.
Earlier, a team of Kanakasundari Rural Municipality had gone on a similar visit spending Rs 800,000. Seven rural municipalities and a municipality of Jumla have included outdoor visit in their annual calendar.
