With senior officials showing a lack of interest to join the newly formed body, the Ministry of General Administration is struggling to manage the human resource for the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA).
With senior officials showing a lack of interest to join the newly formed body, the Ministry of General Administration is struggling to manage the human resource for the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA).
The ministry is struggling to arrange for more than three dozen officials as demanded by the authority urgently. Of the over 200 officials that the NRA needs at its central and sub-regional offices, 41 staffers were sought to be deputed in the first lot.
“We need senior officials including joint-secretaries, senior engineers, survey officers and administrators at the earliest to expedite reconstruction works,” said Madhusudan Adhikari, acting secretary at the NRA.
The ministry, which recently managed more than seven dozen officials for four new ministries, said it will take time to manage the officials for the authority.
“The ministry has just arranged for 88 officers for the newly created ministries. While we lack additional senior officials, those already deployed in the top positions are reluctant to join the
NRA immediately,” said Dinesh Sagar Bhusal, under-secretary at the ministry. “We are planning to depute staff for the NRA gradually.”
Senior officials at the ministry said there are no enough joint-secretaries to be readily deputed. Sources said Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, General Administration Minister Rekha Sharma and Secretary Tankamani Sharma are in talks about managing the officials. NRA CEO Sushil Gyewali has also approached some senior officials, asking them to join the authority.
According to sources at the General Administration Ministry, two factors—senior officials’ reluctance to work under an “untested” chief executive and the lack of clarity on career prospects—have made the NRA positions less attractive. Junior officials have sought clarity over salaries and perks where they may have to work round the clock while senior officials are concerned about their future prospects.
Amid the staff crunch, junior officials deputed from the Prime Minister’s Office run day to day works at the central body responsible for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake-ravaged settlements, heritage sites and infrastructure.
Acting Secretary Madhusudan Adhikari and two under-secretaries from the PMO and the Finance Ministry handle affairs at the office.
28.12°C Kathmandu
