Unrealistic Annual Work-Plan of Singha Ward Citizen Forum

By Ek Raj Sigdel & Nirmala Subba

With an information of a Beni Municipality staff member, without any pre-information, we attended ongoing meeting of a Ward Citizen Forum (WCF) at Singha, Ward No 13 of Beni Municipality on 14^th December 2015. As per the given Social Mobilization Guidelines, the 27 member WCF represents all stakeholders including citizen awareness centers, community forest user groups, women group, children clubs, and women dalit and marginalized communities among others. Out of 27 members in the WCF, 20 were discussing on their approved annual plans for the fiscal year 2072/73. Similarly, out of eight women members in the WCF, only two were in the meeting. It was noted that the meeting was to form user committees to implement recently approved annual development plan – 2072/73 for Ward Number 13 & 14 of Beni Municipality.

While reviewing the WCF meeting minutes, it was revealed that the WCF has carried out a total of five meetings over the last four months and discussed a total of 12 agenda. The agenda discussed in the meetings were related to reformation of WCF, management of senior citizen allowance, ways for making I/NGOs work more effective, dissemination of main features of constitution, formation of Tole Improvement Committees, and establishment of user committees to implement the ward activities.

Thanks due to the WCF initiatives that helped accessing social security allowance to over 90% senior citizens of ward number 13 & 14 of Beni Municipality. The WCF helped collecting data and maintaining bank account of almost all senior citizens in Agriculture Development Bank.To make WCF work more effective, they have decided bringing I / NGO work under their umbrella. As said by WCF members, most of the programs planned in last year got approved without amendment from the Municipality Council. Moreover, in the changing context particularly earthquake, some of the priority activities could have been changed if they were given chance to review the plan as did in the past years. Table 1 presents the Municipality Council approved plan for ward no 13&14 of Beni Municipality for the fiscal year 2072/73 and WCF’s perception on the approved activities.

While seeing table, it is revealed that budget allocated by the Municipality Council for almost all activities were inadequate. Further, target group focused activities were yet to be defined. Almost all WCF members expressed dissatisfaction over the approved plan for 2072/73.

                                                                                        

Table 1 Approved Annual Activities of Singha Village, Ward no 13 & 14 of Beni Municipality for 2072/73

S.No	Activity	Rs.	Remarks
1	Infrastructure and awareness program	1,00,000	No specific program
2	Motor able road construction	1,00,000	Inadequate budget
3	Lift irrigation support	50,000	Inadequate budget
4	Bridge foundation support	75,000	Inadequate budget
5	River bank protection	50,000	Inadequate Budget
6	Community building construction (Women focus program)	75,000	Adequate and specific
7	Road upgrading	1,00,000	Inadequate budget
8	School furniture support	50,000	Adequate and specific
9	Dalit capacity development program	45,000	No specific program
10	Janjati focus program	45,000	No specific program
11	Capacity development (not specific)	45,000	No specific program
12	Disable focus program	45,00	No specific program
13	Women focus program	1,00,000	No specific program