Stakeholders are demanding that only those who understand Lumbini well, are subject matter experts, and have the ability to work with the international community should be appointed through competitive selection, as it is also the economic backbone of the country.
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Stakeholders have demanded that the member-secretary of the Lumbini Development Fund be appointed through open competition.
They have urged the fund to honor the rules, regulations and memorandums given by the employees by appointing them through open competition, saying that vested interests have started to directly move the appointment process forward.
Since Lumbini is also the economic backbone of the country, local stakeholders are demanding that only those who understand Lumbini well, are experts in the subject, and have the ability to work with the international community be appointed through competition.
They suggest that the current government should not repeat the tradition of previous governments making direct appointments based on party affiliation. Fund employees had submitted a memorandum to the then Prime Minister and the Fund's patron on November 14, 2072 demanding that the member-secretary be appointed through open competition. Hearing the demand, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation issued a public notice on December 18, 2074 and held an open competition.
A notice was also published for the 22 people who passed the written examination to come with an action plan for an interview. But the examination itself was postponed due to party interference. After that, the KP Oli-led government appointed Sanuraja Shakya, a member-secretary close to the UML, as the member-secretary on Asoj 22, 2077.
The post of member-secretary of the fund has been vacant since Asoj 22. The post fell vacant after the five-year term of Shakya, the member-secretary of the fund appointed by the then KP Sharma Oli-led government, ended on Asoj 21. Gyanin Rai is currently in charge of the acting member-secretary.
The government has issued a notice on Kartik 27, 2082 to appoint the vacant general manager post of Nepal Airlines Corporation under the same ministry through open competition and started the process. However, tourism entrepreneur Leelamani Sharma of Lumbini said that suspicions have been raised because of the attempt to make a direct appointment to the vacant member-secretary of the fund.
The government had also appointed the executive director of the Boudhanath Area Development Committee under the Ministry of Culture through open competition on 23 Poush 2081. The process for appointing the executive director of the Buddhist Philosophy Promotion and Monastery Development Committee under the same ministry through open competition has been initiated by publishing a notice on 13 Ashad 2082.
However, local Arjun Kurmi alleged that the fund is still trying to use discretionary powers because of self-interest. ‘Appointments made without competition do not create transparency and accountability.’ The fund, which has reached a financially dilapidated state, needs efficient and strong leadership, he said. ‘The government should not hesitate to appoint a fearless person through open competition to bring in a leadership that can eliminate irregularities, unnecessary staff burden and recruitment.’
Rajan Basnet, the information officer of the trust, says that the criteria for appointing office bearers and members in 31 such public bodies under the Ministry of Culture are not as per the prescribed criteria, which has given rise to corruption. ‘If Lumbini is to improve and attract more tourists, member-secretaries should be appointed through open competition,’ he said.
Bhikshu Maitri Mahasthabir, former president of the All Nepal Monks Federation, said that a person who is well-educated and understands peace and spirituality should be appointed as secretary. Inamulla Fakir, ward chairman of Lumbini Cultural Municipality-2, says that appointments should be made through open competition to show development, good governance and transparency. ‘The federal government should not only impose its decisions, but also understand the feelings of the locals,’ he said.
