Status of Utilization of Block Grant By Local Bodies In Nepal

Abstract

In Nepal, decentralization has been accepted as a main means of enhancing good governance, a process of administrative, political, social, economic and development works, and a strategy for promoting people’s participation and empowerment of peoples. To promote the enjoyment of the fruits of democracy by maximizing the participation of the sovereign people in the process of governance by way of decentralization and devolution of services from the centre to the local level there are provisioned two tire local bodies District development committee and Village development committee/Municipality. Every year government provides the grant to VDC for carrying out development activities. This study gives attention the status of utilization of block grant by local bodies in Nepal. To find out the status of grant received by VDC from national budget and District Development Committee, status of women, children and disadvantage people participation in planning, implementation and decision making process of VDCs and what are the challenge and constraint to implement the budget and program is three major objective of this study. This study carried out based on explorative and descriptive both type of research design. The nature and source of date collection through primary as well as secondary method. Main source of primary data are collect form Padampur VDC.For the primary data collection choosing seventy two respondents throughout the VDC through accidental method. Observation method also applied for the data collection. Other secondary data collect from different published, book, journal which is published by respective VDC and DDC and different website as well.Likewise,an interview was conducted to each key informant with structured or unstructured questionnaire. Similarly, data collection form general public and focus group discussion with structured and prepared open ended question. This study was carried out three major objectives. The first objective was to find out the status of grant received by VDC from national budget and DDC. As per the finding of this study, VDC have got regularly grant from national budget as target.But,a very few budget got VDC from DDC compare to target and there is no reliability to got budget from DDC. Second objective was to find out the status of women, children and disadvantage people participation in planning, implementation and decision making process in VDCs. The number of participation from target group is rising way since commencement of LSGA. However, there is lack of meaningful participation. So,need to meaningful participation of target group. There is number of challenge and constriction to implement the budget and program of VDCs. Absent of elected local bodies, very few number of staffs in VDCs, raising work load, lack of proper knowledge regarding the job responsibility, unhealthy competition, lack of coordination are major challenge and constraint to implement the budget and program. For the effective implementation of decentralization policy GoN has bring in various Act, Regulation and Guidelines. Government has had prepare separate guideline for effective implementation and proper utilization of VDC grant and earmarked certain percent budget for children, women and disadvantage people.Despite the fact the compliance of budget allocation and program implementation system still out of track. It is hoped that this study will help to understand how VDC allocate VDC grant and made expenditure. Similarly, this study will help to find the level of women,children and disadvantage people participation in VDC level.