VDCs
fails to pick up development activities
KATHMANDU, August 18
Most of the Village Development Committees (VDCs)
failed to utilize development block grants, allocated
by the government, in a full swing over the last fiscal
year, due to continued conflicts and absence of elected
representatives in local bodies.
Under the VDC block grant head the ministry released
only Rs 1.63 billion, which was 83.7 % as compared
to cent percent released during previous years.
Failure of the VDCs to fully utilize grant budget
is a clear indication that development activities
in the local level have been adversely affected
by various problems afflicting the country. The
rebels’ extortion was one of the major causes
for low release of budget. Several VDC secretaries
have been forced to flee to the district headquarters
due to frail law and order condition at the rural
levels.
However, release of grants for both the DDCs and
municipalities grants was quite encouraging during
the period. The DDCs fully absorbed budget of Rs
842 million that the government had for the DDCs.
As DDCs projects are mainly concentrated in and
around the district headquarters, they are no facing
serious security problem to run development program.
