The locals who reach these offices to seek government services complain that the work delivered by the local units is dismal. Lokraj Dahal, a resident of Gamgadhi, said that that is because the lack of proper infrastructure and space in these offices is affecting daily operations. “I would never go to these offices if I had a choice, but we have to frequently come here. The office is small, there is no waiting area, and they don’t even have regular supply of electricity,” said Dahal.

Lack of furniture, toilets, and drinking water facilities in the offices are discouraging people from going to these offices to seek service, said Dahal. “But it’s not just service seekers who are facing problems, even the employees at these offices are working under duress for lack of facilities.”

Since the local units are lacking in basic facilities, service delivery has also taken a backseat. “Locals come to these offices from far-flung villages and are tired, and then it takes a lot of time for their work to get done. Most of them return without getting their jobs done. Service delivery at these offices is slow and cumbersome,” said Karma Phutik Lama, the resident of Pulu in Mugamkarmarong.

In the running fiscal year, Chhyanath Municipality, Soru Rural Municipality, Khatyad Rural Municipality and Mugamkarmarong Rural Municipality have allocated Rs 320 million, Rs 230 million, Rs 270 million and Rs 170 million for infrastructure development. However, none of these local units has allocated budget to construct their own office buildings.

Chhyanath Municipality Office has been paying Rs 80,000 per month as rent for an office building in Gamgadhi. According to the municipality, it needs at least five ropanies of land to build a building for the municipality office. Harijang Shahi, mayor of the municipality, said that they have been looking for an appropriate plot of land. “There’s a shortage of all types of infrastructures in a rented building,” said Shahi, informing that they have been facing problems to do their jobs for lack of their own office building. He said, “Out of 14 ward offices in the municipality, 10 are running from rented buildings.” Chhyanath Municipality Office has also allocated Rs 4.5 million for each ward for infrastructure development in the current fiscal year but none of them have the budget for an office building.

Khatyad Rural Municipality Office in Majhchaur also pays Rs 50,000 rent per month. All 11 ward offices of the rural municipality are being operated from rented buildings.

Mugamkarmarong Rural Municipality Office is also being operated from a rented building in Pulu. Every month, the office pays Rs 14,000 as rent. Out of nine ward offices, only three are being operated from government buildings.

Soru Rural Municipality operates out of an old, dilapidated building previously used by the area forest office. The municipality’s thematic office is operated from a rented building. Lok Bahadur Shahi, chairman of Soru Rural Municipality, said that Agriculture, Education and Health section of the municipality office is being operated from a rented building. He said, “The majority of the ward offices are being operated from rental houses for lack of budget for infrastructure building.”