PM Dahal, departmental ministers sign agreement for implementation of policies and programmes, budget

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and departmental ministers signed a performance agreement regarding the implementation of the policies and programmes and the budget for the current fiscal year. 

The Prime Minister and departmental ministers from 21 ministries signed the agreement amid a programme organised at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu on Thursday.

The agreement aims to achieve the government-set targets and to implement the government directives issued at different times by making all the subordinate bodies responsible towards that end.

The programme also went through a review of the implementation of the government policies and programmes and the budget for the last fiscal year.

The performance agreement has separate agenda for each ministry. It presents the lists of major works and responsibilities to be carried out by the respective ministers in the current fiscal year and the deadline for completing the responsibilities.

It has a provision about monitoring the implementation of the agreement, requiring to submit monthly updates about the works execution progress details to the OPMCM online. The annual report will be prepared on the same basis.

The term of the agreement is one year. If any of the ministerial posts fall vacant before the end of the agreement, the minister taking charge of the position shall be automatically bound to the agreement.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed ministers, secretaries and departmental chiefs to improve service delivery in a way that people can feel it.

Addressing ministers and secretaries after signing the performance agreement, PM Dahal urged them to make arrangements for service delivery in an easy, smooth, quality and cost-effective way.

He mentioned that no one is allowed to make delay in their performance responsibilities assigned to them on any pretext as in the past, adding action will be taken against those not fulfilling their duties and responsibilities.

"The government will reward ministers, secretaries, departmental chiefs and project chiefs achieving progress as mentioned in the action plan and take the necessary steps to change responsibilities of those failing to achieve the progress as per the target," PM Dahal reiterated. 

He further said that performance will be evaluated based on monthly report cards with quality progress achieved every month, saying, "A performance agreement has been signed between me and ministers determining annual goals. Performance agreement has already been signed between ministers and secretaries and departmental-level."

The PM said the role of leadership in project implementation was significant and removing obstacles surfaced in implementation and inter-body coordination is the responsibility of the leadership.

He directed the ministers, secretaries, departmental chiefs and project chiefs to complete projects under their responsibilities within the determined time and to carry out performance to achieve results in effective implementation.

Prime Minister Dahal shared, "I urge to the forward policy and institutional-level reform by identifying the factors making obstacles in development on time and make effective arrangements to resolve problems that might be surfaced in the project immediately."

He said the trend of not completing the development construction activities on time and not showing interest in the issue of inter-body coordination has become the main challenge in the present condition and stressed the need for ending such a trend.

No one should be hesitant to take the right decision remaining within the existing act and rules, he mentioned, adding he is always committed to defending the decisions taken by public officials with good intentions and protecting the employees. 

PM Dahal expressed that the government will take stern moves to eliminate corruption, the obstacle to the country's development and prosperity. "Governance mechanism should be easy and smooth for the journey of good governance, social justice and prosperity", he mentioned.

The Prime Minister stressed that the government under his leadership has laid emphasis on the mobilisation of its all energy and capability for the welfare of the country and people keeping the revival of the economy, improvement in public service delivery, social justice, good governance and prosperity in the centre.