CDO issues:
Basically, the Chief District Officer (CDO) is the local representative of central Government, who might have maxim authorities to exercise the power of central Government accordance with the laws and decisions of Government. However, in practice the CDOs are the one of the worst post. They are practically responsible for many things in district but they are poor in terms of need based power, budgets, manpower, & technology. For instant CDO is responsible for maintaining peace and security, to enforce law and order, development administration etc, but CDO remains powerless, if his/her issued order or request is not implemented by Police, Army, or any respective authorities or officials. In addition, CDOs are responsible for corruption control and monitoring and supervisory, though CDO has no sufficient budget to buy even adequate stationary, so every time; CDO has to ask for help to the other office In-charges. So how can a CDO morally capable to take an action against such officers or In-charges who are helping to CDO? Therefore, CDOs are compelled to be silent while they have to take heed on any cases or complains against the other officials. So, CDOs must be equipped with all types of needy resources for their effective and efficient role and duties.
Further, CDO should be professional but the tendency of CDO posting is more political and slapdash. In short, it is seen that the Home is a highly professional Ministry but it is operated by non professional people. The political leadership uses to send their harvesters as CDO instead of professional people. The outsiders’ trend to entering as CDOs through backdoor is very bad tendency. Of course, they are being failure in comparison to original cadre of Home Affairs. The main intentions of such lopsided CDOs are to earn more, enforce the order of dishonest politicians, who are doing many things for their personal interest. In such situation, Government should develop certain hard and fast indicators about the eligibility of CDOs. The CDO should equip with adequate technology and machinery. The CDO is a principle coordinator, so the CDOs role might be deployed in performance based contract. Further, it should be also incorporated with all local level authorities e.g. police, in-charges of police, arm police etc. The all In-charge level officers are kept under direct supervision and control of CDO for effective governance and optimized service delivery as per need of New Nepal. The CDO’s report should be made mandatory for promotion, posting, transfer and other things by respective authorities.
Specially, the infrastructures, privileges and other facilities of CDOs are very poor. CDOs do not have even enough trainings or specific knowledge about public service delivery, security administration, crisis management, boarder administration, corruption control, conflict management, refugee handling, boarder security, disaster management, NGO monitoring etc, so they must be empowered as per their assigned role through National and international trainings and other essential opportunities. Specially, the Ministry should conduct some need based training packages and research for its cadres. Most of the CDOs still do not have enough knowledge about internet or intranet system, CDOs have very less knowledge on how to handle the diplomatic and other issues in local level such as behavior with UN agencies, ICRC, Embassies officials etc. Hence, they must be trained in needy subjects. The CDOs recommendation should also impose as mandatory by laws in development affairs, as the CDOs is only a sole representative of central authority in local level who has to maintain balance relation with diverse people and institution.
Police & Intelligence
The Nepal Police, Arm Police and Intelligence officials’ are the employees of State not a member staffs of particular political parties or politicians. Therefore, the transparent scientific performance indicators should be developed for accountability, posting, transfer, career development, promotion, demotion, reward and action. The transformation of traditional police & intelligence administration should be immediately restructured accordance with need of contemporary affairs of the Nation. The technological advancement is required to meet the emerging challenges for better security and service delivery arrangements. The digitalization and networking technological system should be adopted for service delivery and security management.
The most pathetic issues are crisis of financial resources, technical human resource, technology and physical facilities are serious part, so the necessary facilities and developmental advantages should be addressed by laws, at least accordance with SAARC standards. The Police, Intelligence, & Nepal Army should play coordinative role and synergetic effort in local level under the direct observation and coordination of CDOs.
In conclusion, the exiting situation of Home Ministry is very weak. The Home Ministry, Secretary, Regional Administration, CDOs, Polices, Immigration, Jail and Intelligences mechanisms are poor and in highly fragile condition. Currently, the country is suffering with lawlessness, and even our Government presence is in crisis in entire rural areas. Therefore, immediate empowerment of Home Affairs through restructure, reengineering, and betterment in legal, structural, financial, physical, personnel, academic, and development areas are most essential.
(Author is affiliated with Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Nepal)
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