The DPHO has not been able to reach an understanding with partner organisations-National Council for Economic and Development Research Centre, Ramgram and Maitri Samaj Kusma-to implement the Equity and Access Programme (EAP) aimed at providing health and maternity services to the underprivileged communities due to the bargain for commission, local stakeholders claimed. Mukunda Raj Gautam, a senior official at the DPHO, however, refuted such allegations and said the EAP implementation was delayed as it was not a year-long project. “Though the project is slated to begin mid-May, we will complete it in a month,” he said, adding that they have selected an NGO to implement the programme and will reach an understanding with it within a few days.

The DPHO has selected Bendimanipur, Ghurkot, Rakachuli, Hupsekot, Jauwari, Bharatipur, Naram and Arkhalafall to implement the project with the initial budget of Rs 1,200,000.

Local stakeholders, however, said they were still not sure that the programme will be implemented within the current fiscal year. “The delay and allegation of irregularities have made the project uncertain,” Baburam Pandey of Prasauni-5 said, adding that the trend of receiving funding for duplicated work is on the rise in the local level.