NPC gets full shape

Kathmandu, June 4

The National Planning Commission (NPC) has got complete shape after its newly appointed member Anita Shah Dhungana took the oath of office and secrecy on Sunday.

Vice-Chairman of the NPC Dr. Min Bahadur Shrestha administered the oath to Dhungana.

Dhungana was appointed as a female member of the planning body by the Cabinet on May 28. She has worked at the UNDP and various cooperatives and microfinance institutions.

The new team at the NPC also includes members Dr. Ram Kumar Phuyal, Dr. Jay Kant Raut, Dr. Prabhu Budhathoki, Dr. RP Bichha, and Dr. Ramesh Paudel.

Newly appointed member Dhungana has the mandate to look after women, children and senior citizens, communication and information technology, law, justice and parliamentary affairs as well as Karnali Province.

Among the previously appointed members, Dr. Phuyal has been given the responsibility of industry, commerce and supply, tourism, labour and employment, statistics as well as Sudurpaschim Province, while Dr. Raut has been entrusted with agriculture, land, cooperatives and drinking water.

Similarly, Dr. Budhathoki has the responsibility of energy, forestry, Public Private Partnership as well as Bagmati Province, Dr. Bichha has health and population, federal affairs and general administration as well as Koshi province, and Paudel has been given the portfolio of agriculture, urban development, youth and sports as well as Bagmati Province.

The macroeconomic sector, finance, defense, foreign affairs, home affairs physical infrastructure, foreign aid and coordination of all provinces are looked after by VC Dr. Shrestha. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 5 June 2023.