Local body employees have announced a fresh strike protesting ´arbitrary´ appointments by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD).

Local body employees say the MoFALD violated the Local Self Governance Act-1999 by appointing employees at District Development Committees (DDCs), municipalities and Village Development Committees (VDCs). 

As per the act, employees at local bodies, if required, should be appointed by committees formed by local bodies themselves. "But, against the act, the ministry sent employees on its own and sent them to work at different local bodies," said Khagendra Prasad Khatiwada, member of a struggle committee formed by local body employees.

"The government should withdraw all its decision if it wants us to call off our strike," said Khatiwada at a press meet organized on Wednesday in Dharan. 

Local body employees have announced to halt all their services for three days across the country beginning August 3, exerting pressure on the government to scrap its appointments. "However, during our strikes, emergency services like ambulance, garbage disposal and fire brigades will not be halted," explained Khatiwada.

Agitating employees say their strike is also to press the government to implement all agreements reached with them in the past. "Two years ago, giving in to pressure created by our agitation, the government had reached an agreement," said Khatiwada. "But, none of the points in the agreement has been fulfilled yet.´ 

According to Khatiwada, against the letter and spirit of the act, the government has appointed local governance experts and Information Communication Technology (ICT) volunteers at various DDCs, and accountants, administration officers and program chiefs at municipalities. 

Local body employees say they also doubt expertise of those whom the MoFALD has appointed as experts. They say such arbitrary appointments were driven by the motive of creating vacant posts for near and dear ones of politicians.

Published on: 31 July 2014 | Republica