Pokhara: Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, has expressed concerns that a ‘centralised mentality’ presents a significant obstacle to the successful implementation of federalism. Speaking at a workshop titled “10 years of federal journey, practices, and achievements (implementation of federalism from the perspective of provincial government)” organized by Pokhara University, the Chief Minister highlighted the struggles faced by the provincial government in meeting citizens’ expectations. He attributed these challenges to delays in the enactment of laws mandated by the Constitution and a lack of clear identification of needs and priorities.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Chief Minister Pandey emphasized that the absence of necessary laws from the federal government has further complicated the province government’s ability to address the needs of its citizens, especially given its limited resources. He noted that these factors have exacerbated the complexities in implementing federalism effectively.
Gandaki Province Policy and Planning Commission’s Vice-Chair Dr. Krishna Chandra Devkota, however, asserted that federalism has brought transformative changes in various aspects within the province. Matthias Meier, Charg© d’Affaires at the Embassy of Switzerland, remarked on Nepal’s ongoing efforts to ensure the effective implementation of federalism. Additionally, University’s Registrar, Associate Professor Dr. Ajay Thapa, stated that the workshop aimed to foster discourse on strengthening federalism in practice.
Former Chief Secretary Dr. Somlal Subedi underscored the necessity for prioritizing political agendas and the willingness of political parties to initiate administrative actions and develop skills for the effective enforcement of federalism. He also stressed the importance of controlling fragmented projects and increasing investment in productive sectors.