The ongoing indiscretion in the appointment of officials of the Lumbini Development Fund has continued this time as well. The current government has also ignored the demand to make appointments only through competition based on merit.

Local people who are knowledgeable about Lumbini have not been given priority in the appointment. After the Council of Ministers appointed member-secretaries based on party influence and access, the criteria decided and implemented by the previous government have become a piece of paper. Since the fund has a chief executive and discretionary power in decisions, there has been manipulation in the appointment of member-secretaries.

The Lumbini Development Fund has become disorganized and neglected after the Minister/Prime Minister also started appointing officials based on discretion rather than criteria. The spiritual environment has been completely disrupted due to the increase in anarchy. Even after 9 years since the Council of Ministers set the criteria for the appointment of officials, they have not been implemented. As a result, arbitrariness has increased in the fund, while archaeological sites have become neglected.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had implemented the criteria in 2073 by getting a decision from the Council of Ministers for the appointment and nomination of officials and members of public bodies under its jurisdiction in a qualified, competent, impartial and transparent manner. The criteria were also implemented in 31 public bodies related to the ministry, including the fund. The criteria were signed by the then secretary of the ministry and now the head of the CIAA, Prem Rai.

The criteria are still in place. However, the current government, ministers and responsible bodies have flouted the criteria. The last time, on November 20, the Council of Ministers appointed Deepak Shrestha of Gorkha as the member-secretary of the fund without competition. He is an engineer at the Drinking Water Corporation. Before that, on September 22, 2077, the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had appointed Sanuraja Shakya as the member-secretary.

At that time, Oli had given direct instructions to UML Minister of Tourism and Culture Yogesh Bhattarai for the appointment. Bhattarai was dissatisfied with Oli's instructions. After Shakya's 5-year term ended, vested interests again succeeded in making direct appointments. Lumbini locals and stakeholders are dissatisfied with this. They have warned of agitation demanding the cancellation of the appointment.

Section 3 (a) of the criteria implemented by the ministry stipulates that the executive head of a public body should have at least a master's degree and at least 5 years of experience in the relevant field. Similarly, Sub-section 2 (1) of Section 7 states that the ministry will make a procedure for the appointment or nomination of the executive head of a public body on the basis of open competition.

Similarly, on 2072 Mangsir 14, the employees of the fund submitted a memorandum to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, demanding the abolition of the posts of Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Member-Secretary and Planning Chief of the fund and the appointment of a Vice-Chairman from the Buddhist community at the policy level and a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) through open competition. Similarly, the employees of the fund sent a memorandum again on 2081 Magh 14, demanding the implementation of the memorandum sent in 2072.

Inamulla Fakir, Ward Chairman of Lumbini Cultural Municipality-2, said that when office bearers come with appointments under political pressure, the work of the Lumbini Development Master Plan is being neglected. ‘There is pressure to do selfish work,’ he said, ‘This is deeply hurting the faith and respect of Lumbini. Due to party interests, the Lumbini Development Fund has now become a political arena.’

The fund has now become Maoist-affiliated as the fund's officials are politically appointed. The fund's vice-chairman Lyaharkyal Lama and planning chief Smita Bhatta are close to the Maoists. Treasurer Dhundiraj Bhattarai is close to the then Unified Socialists. The socialists have now merged into the Maoist Center.

Due to political maneuvering and factionalism, the office bearers have recruited employees at their own will, and it has become a cadre recruitment center. More employees are working than the posts. The fund's approved posts are 158, but now there are 202 employees.

Lumbini Bachau Mahaabhiyan co-coordinator Ram Bikas Chaudhary said that the locals are very angry as the distortion of increasing convenience for themselves instead of increasing the development and spirituality of Lumbini has increased. ‘The appointment of the member-secretary made by the government is flawed, discriminatory and against the sentiments of the locals, so we are unacceptable,’ he said. ‘We have strongly protested against the interim government formed after the Genji movement for abandoning the good practice of appointing member-secretaries through open competition.’ He said that on November 20, he submitted a memorandum to the Lumbini Development Fund, requesting the cancellation of the controversial and illegal appointment of the member-secretary.’

Since the member-secretary is the executive head with financial powers, everyone’s eyes are on him. That is why the Maoists are now going to appoint a member-secretary close to them. It is alleged that when the member-secretary is in their favor, there is extreme misuse of work such as employee recruitment, contract work, foreign visits, distribution of land (plots) for building temples and monasteries, and taking other service facilities. Therefore, the voice that an expert with a vision and mission, who understands Lumbini, should be appointed as the member-secretary through open competition to work free from pressure and influence has now been raised with great urgency.

The current government has issued a notification on 27 Kartik 2009 to appoint the vacant general manager post of the Nepal Airlines Corporation under the Ministry of Culture through open competition. However, Lumbini Hotel Association President Leelamani Sharma said that making a direct appointment to the vacant member-secretary post of the fund has raised many doubts. He said that the government formed in the situation created as a result of the Genji movement went beyond its mandate and worked under pressure and influence, making a mockery of the movement.

Meanwhile, the government has already issued a notification on 23 Poush 2009 and appointed the executive director of the Boudhanath Area Development Committee under the Ministry of Culture through open competition. Similarly, the process has been initiated by publishing a notice on 06/06/2019 for the appointment of the Executive Director of the Buddhist Philosophy Promotion and Monastery Development Committee under the same ministry through an open competitive competition.

However, the use of discretionary powers in the fund has raised suspicions of major manipulation, said Arjun Kurmi, President of Green Youth of Lumbini. The decision to appoint Shrestha as the Member-Secretary of the Council of Ministers Fund is currently in limbo after the then Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal refused to certify it. Sources have said that the certification was refused because the appointment was against the standards. It remains to be seen what the new Chief Secretary Suman Raj Aryal will do. It is also said that his appointment may not continue due to strong opposition at the local level to the appointment of Member-Secretary and the government's decision not meeting the standards.

Sumangalo said that Lumbini, which is said to be the source of world peace, has always been a party's cesspool, which has not sent a good message abroad. He said that a person who understands Lumbini culturally and spiritually, can talk to donors diplomatically, and can develop Lumbini should be made the member-secretary. Rajan Basnet, information officer of the Lumbini Development Trust, said that if there is no leadership that can provide knowledge, ability, and leadership, Lumbini is bound to go downhill. 'The situation here has become dilapidated,' he said, 'If we do not improve and move forward even now, future generations will condemn us.' Stating that political appointments made without competition will not lead to transparency and accountability, he said that the trust, which has reached a dilapidated state financially, needs efficient and strong leadership.

The government should not be an obstacle to appointing a fearless leader who can eliminate financial irregularities, unnecessary staff burden and recruitment centers through open competition. Local Narbajit Kurmi said that they are saddened that the government formed after the Genji movement has made such a mistake, following the tradition of appointing those who are affiliated with the party of the previous government. ‘It is very surprising,’ he said, ‘Since the past, sometimes MR (Medical Representative) or sometimes Senior Meter Reader or sometimes Overseer is sent as Member-Secretary.’ He said that this has created distortion. That is why the demand has been made to appoint the member-secretary post of the fund through open competition.

The Maha Abhiyan is angrily raising awareness that the actions of ministers and the self-interest of a particular group are getting priority over the spirit of the movement, the priorities of the nation and the mandate at the time of appointment, saying that the youth active in the Genji movement and the Lumbini Rescue Maha Abhiyan are getting priority. ‘If a member-secretary is appointed based on a mandate like the previous government, it is not acceptable, we will take to the streets to protest against it,’ said Kurmi, ‘If a minister’s aide is appointed in a non-transparent manner like the previous government, it will be cursed by the Genji movement.’ The residents here say that the federal government should understand the feelings of the locals. They said that they do not have to accept the decision if it is forced. ‘The youth are ready to take to the streets against it,’ said Kurmi.