The draft of the second five-year plan of the Far Western Province government has been extensively discussed.

The discussion program organized by the Provincial Policy and Planning Commission, Far Western Province (Dhangadhi) in Dadeldhura on Sunday was attended by local level chiefs, deputy chiefs, chief administrative officers and heads of planning branches of Darchula, Baitadi, Bajhang and Dadeldhura districts. Earlier, discussions have been held in other districts of the Far Western Province.

In the program, Vice President of the Provincial Policy and Planning Commission Dr. Jeevan Rana informed that the first five-year plan of the Far Western Province has reached the completion stage and said that the work of preparing the second five-year plan has reached the final stage. She clarified that the plan to be implemented from fiscal year 2083 to 2087 has prioritized poverty reduction, employment creation, agricultural modernization, infrastructure development, education and health improvement, tourism promotion, good governance promotion and digital province creation. According to her, extensive consultations have been held at various stages in the plan preparation process.

‘We formally discussed the former honorable ministers in Kathmandu on December 2. After that, consultations were also held with the Chief Minister, Ministers and Secretaries of the provincial government. After the concept note was prepared, the draft was prepared based on that,’ she said, ‘We are currently collecting suggestions from the heads, deputy heads, chief administrative officers and heads of planning branches of all 88 local levels.’ Rana informed that the plan will be revised by incorporating the suggestions received from the local level and the upcoming policies and programs and budget will be prepared on the same basis.

In the program, expert member Dr. Hemraj Lamichhane, who was involved in the draft preparation, presented the policy and program roadmap prepared in the direction of achieving the current situation of the province and the sustainable development goals. He said that the plan will be finalized by incorporating the suggestions received from the local level.

During the discussion, local level representatives gave important suggestions on various issues. Santosh Prakash Joshi, Chief of Dilasaini Rural Municipality of Baitadi, suggested that priority should be given to the study-and-earn program, tourism promotion, indigenous crop conservation, production and marketing, branding of local products, disaster management and institutional strengthening, forest conservation, conservation and promotion of valuable herbs, expansion of fruit farming according to soil, and solid waste management should be included in the plan.