All but one province fare poorly in performance

Kathmandu, Feb. 16

All provinces in Nepal, except one, have failed in their annual performance evaluation conducted by the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission (NNRFC).

According to the evaluation published by the Commission, one province has obtained 44.3 marks while the rest six failed to cross the pass marks of 40. Gandaki Province scored 38.5, Bagmati 36.1 and Lumbini 34.4 marks in the evaluation based on various 19 indicators and sub-indicators ranging from budget allocation to programme implementation. 

Madhes Province fared the worst with just 20.5 marks in performance index which the NNRFC created for the purpose of recommending financial equalisation grants for the next fiscal year 2023/24. Other poor performers include Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces with just 25.9 and 26.1 score.

The average marks of provinces stands at 32.25.

The Commission has used the indicators like the audited amount of the concerned sub-national government from the Fiscal Year 2020/21, existing arrears, conditional grants provided to the local governments as per the formula of the NNFRC, allocated budget of previous FY 2021/22, total expenditures, capital expenditure, revenue garget and collection, assessment of the annual income and expenditure estimates, index of air quality in the concerned province and forest management.

Meanwhile, the local bodies fared better than the provinces with most of the obtaining scores higher than 50.

Narainapur Municipality of Banke district has topped the local government category with 78.51 score. It is followed by Pyuthan Municipality of Pyuthan with 77.26 marks, Mangla RM of Myagdi with 77.09, and Sisne RM of Rukum East with 77.

It is interesting that most of the top scorers are the rural municipalities. Likewise, the local bodies in the western part of the country have obtained better marks.

Butwal Sub-metropolitan City is the only city among the 17 large cities that scored 73.24 marks. Among the metropolitan cities Bharatpur topped the list with 72.22 marks, followed by Biratnagar (59.24), Lalitpur (58.43), Kathmndu (56.52), Birgunj (53.23) and Pokhara (48.66).

Rural municipalities including Chisapani of Achham district, Ganyapdhura of Dadeldhura, Bhagwatimai of Dailekh, Subhakalika of Jajarkot, Jagdulla of Dolpa, Madane of Gulmi, Sarumarani and Gaumukhi of Pyuthan, and three municipalities Sandhikharka of Arghakhanchi, Resunga of Gulmi and Dudhaul of Sindhuli have crossed 72 score.

Dhanauji Rural Municipality of Dhanusha district has scored just 29 marks.

 

Top scoring local bodies

Narainapur RM of Banke – 78.51

Mangala RM of Myagdi – 77.09

Sisne RM of Rukum East – 77

Pyuthan Municipality of Pyuthan – 77.26

Sarumarani RM of Pyuthan – 76.7

Gaumukhi RM of Pyuthan – 76

Madane RM of Gulmi – 76

Gaumukhi RM of Pyuthan – 76

Sandhikharkha Municipality of Arghakhanchi – 75

Ganyapdhura RM of Dadeldhura – 74.77

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 February 2023.