KATHMANDU, July 2: A high-level Federalism Implementation and Restructuring Directive Committee headed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has developed an understanding that the government will not create any new posts in the civil service until a concrete action plan is formulated on state restructuring at all three levels--federal, provincial and local.
The high-level committee held its first meeting at Singha Durbar on Friday and reached an understanding on not creating any new posts in the civil service until a plan for state restructuring in line with the new constitution is formulated, according to Minister for General Administration Rekha Sharma, who is also a member of the high-level committee.
On April 8, the government had formed the 11-member high-level committee to oversee the overall tasks of state restructuring envisioned by the new constitution.
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Along with Prime Minister Oli, Defense Minister Bhim Rawal, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, Home Minister Shakti Basnet, Law Minister Agni Kharel, Minister for General Administration Rekha Sharma, Vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada were present at the meeting.
The high-level committee held discussion with another Federalism Implementation and Administration Restructuring Coordination Committee headed by Chief Secretary Somlal Subedi. During the discussion, the high-level committee had asked the coordination committee to adopt austerity measures while creating government entities in the new federal setup, informed Sharma.
The coordination committee has been entrusted the responsibility to formulate policies to define the jurisdictions of the federal, provincial and local governments and the inter-relations between the three tiers of government. Similarly, the committee has also been asked to determine the necessary government bodies required at the three levels of government and forward the policies formulated and other recommendations and plans for state restructuring to the high-level committee for necessary review and endorsement.
"So, during the meeting, we briefed the high-level committee on the tasks being carried out by our committee," said Chief Secretary Subedi.
He said that the high-level committee has asked the coordination committee to prepare basis for determining the number of ministries required at federal and provincial levels.
