KATHMANDU, Dec 24: The board of the Local Development Training Academy (LDTA) has approved budgets for seven fiscal years at once, covering 2076/77 BS to 2082/83 BS, in a board meeting held on December 12.
LDTA Executive Director Kanunlal Chaudhary said delays in convening board meetings happened due to the Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA), who serves as the ex officio board chair, not providing the required time. “We repeatedly requested the minister to call the board meeting, but since he did not provide time, the meeting could not take place,” Chaudhary said.
Same old plans and limited budget for sports
Despite the lack of formal approval, the institute had been entering its annual budgets into the LIMS system. The budget for the current fiscal year, 2082/83 BS, is Rs 11.02 crore, while the budget for 2080/81 BS was Rs 9.95 crore. Approving seven fiscal years’ budgets in a single day does not fully align with legal procedures.
The Local Development Training Academy Act, 2049 BS, requires the board, chaired by MoFAGA, to meet twice a year to approve the institute’s annual budget and programs. However, board meetings did not convene over the past seven years, even as the institute spent funds from various sources.
A successor to the former Panchayat Training Centre, LDTA was established to develop governance and administrative skills nationwide and currently operates nine training centres.
A senior ministry official alleged Chaudhary’s appointment as executive director was legally questionable under the Local Development Training Academy Act, 2049 BS, which sets qualification requirements. Chaudhary, formerly personal secretary to ex-Minister Amanlal Modi, was appointed executive director on the minister’s recommendation and cabinet approval. He defended his appointment as fully lawful.
LDTI lands have reportedly been leased at nominal rates to Unity Tower and Bagmati Nursery over the past 15 years, while the institute continues to receive funding from Kathmandu Metropolitan City and other donor agencies.
