During the local level elections in 2017, the government attracted much attention with its slogan “Ghar-Ghar ma Singha Durbar” (Singha Durbar at every home). But two years have passed since the elections, and people at Ruby Valley Rural Municipality, in northern Dhading district, are yet to feel the presence of Singha Durbar at their villages. On the contrary, local units at the municipality are almost defunct for lack of human resources brought on by the adjustment of civil servants.

In the municipality, one ward secretary has been having to carry out the responsibility of six wards, as the recent civil servants adjustment process prompted the transfer of the other five ward secretaries. As a result, the daily works at the rural municipality have been hit hard, along with various other projects being affected.

“We are being bound to deliver services to people through the contact office here in Sertung, the centre of the rural municipality, as there is only one secretary for six wards,” said Ruby Valley Rural Municipality Chairman Cherong Tamang. “And because of the staff crunch, we have not been able to provide services to the people in their respective wards.”

Secretary Indra Prasad Kafle of the then three village development committees has been given the responsibility of acting Administrative Officer for the rural municipality.

The government had appointed Khem Khatri as the Chief Administrative Officer in the region. However, he was called to the federal setup following the adjustment which has left the rural municipality without civil servants.

The rural municipality was allotted 25 civil servants, but now only two officials at the accounts department carry out the works of the whole area. Health post in-charge and the accounts officers are now carrying out various works including registration of birth, death among others.

Meanwhile, the rural municipality Chairman and Vice Chairman are stationed at Sertung, where only

village council meetings, executive meetings, among other policy making meetings, are carried out.