The government on Sunday completed the expansion of the National Planning Commission (NPC), the apex body that frames the country’s development plans and policies, by appointing three members.

The newly-appointed members are: Swarnim Wagle, a senior economist and former NPC member; Prabhu Budathoki, an environmentalist and former country director of International Union for Conservation of Nature; and Hirendra Man Pradhan, an engineer and professor at Tribhuvan University.

Names of these three members were recommended by the ruling coalition partner Nepali Congress, and the trio was appointed by Sunday’s Cabinet meeting. With this, NPC’s board has received a full shape, as it now contains all seven members and a vice chairman.

The new government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal had previously appointed Min Bahadur Shrestha, executive director of Nepal Rastra Bank, as NPC’s vice chairman. The government has also retained two of the NPC members—Chandra Kant Poudel and Sunil Babu Shrestha—who were appointed by the previous government led by KP Sharma Oli. The two were appointed based on recommendation made by Dahal’s Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre).

Also, two other members appointed by the previous government have not tendered their resignation, even after the change in guard of the executive head. They are: Kripa Sindhu Prasad, who is close to Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik), and Geeta Bhakta Joshi, who is close to Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal. Generally, NPC members resign following change in the government.

As the two failed to put in the papers, Sunday’s Cabinet meeting could not appoint Arbindra Mishra, an engineer and former chief of Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk. Mishra’s name was recommended by Nepali Congress.

Wagle returns to commission

Kathmandu: Swarnim Wagle, one of the key architects of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment, a document that identified losses triggered by devastating earthquakes of April and May 2015 and funding needs for recovery and reconstruction, has returned back to the National Planning Commission (NPC).

Talking to the Post right after his appointment as NPC member, Wagle said his priority would be to prepare long-term development plans for the country, which include formation of strategies and action plans to raise Nepal’s per capita income by more than three folds to $2,500 by 2030, eradicate poverty and rapidly improve other major socio-economic indicators by ensuring social justice.

“Also, we’ll focus on rolling out second generation reforms by framing Public-Private Partnership Act and revising host of other legal framework,” Wagle said.

“In addition, new policy outreach will be made to India and China; 14th Period Plan would be finalised; and documents on fiscal federalism will be prepared. Also, we will help in budget execution process.”