THE ROLE OF CIVIL SERVICE IN THE CONTEXT OF NEW NEPAL: THREATS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

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THE ROLE OF CIVIL SERVICE IN THE CONTEXT OF NEW
NEPAL THREATS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

• By G.N. Ojha
• June 29, 2007

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NEW NEPAL
Nepal is under going a structural changes- on the
basis of population composition and geographical
specialty
A. RIGHT-HOLDERS- Self-governing units are being
organized to ensure the rights of the people
residing in the various geographical areas.
Various languages, cultures, customs, traditions
and practices of the peoples residing in the
different regions would be honoured as the right
holders.
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• B. DUTY BEARERS The civil servants are
  duty-bearers, So they should respect the rights
  of the people as the right holders. This would be
  a big change on the part of the civil service.
• C. RESPONSIBILITY TO PEOPLE Till now the civil
  servants were responsible to the government in
  the Centre but in New Nepal they would be
  responsible to the people also.

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• D. CAPACITY BUILDING The people as a right-holder
  become the client of the government but they
  should know how to get good service, so their
  capacity should be enhanced with either training
  or orientation or civic education to receive good
  service from the government.
• E. TOTAL CHANGE The civil service should undergo
  a total mental change in the light of the right
  holders and duty bearers. Those who do not change
  in this light they may feel vary difficult to
  adjust themselves in the organization.

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• After the structuring of the state they (civil
  servants) should adopt themselves to the new
  situation to run the complex businesses (of the
  organization).

F. MANAGE KNOWLEDGE INFORMATION The flow of
knowledge and information to society is
tremendous. So both of these should be managed in
such a way that the civil service adopt
appropriate knowledge and information.
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CIVIL SERVICE

• Civil Service is the process by which objectives
  are defined, plans and policies formulated,
  institutions are created and managed, human
  energies mobilized, resources utilized and
  changes are brought about.

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ROLE Followings are some of the roles of civil
service.

• 1.TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIETY - Civil service tries
  to bring about social and economic changes either
  through direct involvement or through the
  regulation of other instruments of development.
• 2. MODERNIZATION OF A NATION - The formulation
  and implementation of strategies and programs for
  modernization of a nation is the greatest task to
  civil service.

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While performing the above functions the civil
service acts in the following manner

• 3.ASSISTS AND ADVISES - It assists and advises
  the government (Political leaders in power) in
  policy making
• 4. ASSISTS THE MINISTER - It assists the minister
  in the exercise of his parliamentary and
  executive duty.
• 5. FOLLOW LAWS AND PROCEDURES - The civil service
  strictly follows the existing laws and
  established procedures while discharging duties.

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• 6. KNOWLEDGE AND INTEGRITY - It serves the
  organization (Govt. machinery) with the best of
  its knowledge and integrity
• 7. ALTERNATIVES - It suggests numbers of
  alternatives in decision making
• 8. CONTROL CORRUPTION - It tries to control
  corrupt practices
• 9. NEUTRAL It tries to remain politically
  natural.
• 10. BE PROVIDER Be a provider, regulator and
  facilitator for private sector and NGO's

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THREATS- Followings are the threats to civil
service now. If proper attention is given they
can be solved.

• 1. LACK OF VISION Lack of long term political
  vision about civil service
• 2. POLITICAL INTERFERENCE - Unnecessary political
  interference in civil service creates confusion
• 3 DECISION - DELAY - Delay in decision making
  process - this has invited criticism on the part
  of civil service form the public

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• 4. NO INCLUSION - Socially and economically
  backward people, women, Dalits etc. in civil
  service have not been included according to their
  population ration so far.
• 5. CORRUPTION - Corruption is another draw-back
  to civil service
• 6. LOW MORAL - Low pay, in adequate facilities,
  lack of social justice (no-promotion in time
  etc.) among the civil service lack of security in
  job etc. have contributed for low morale.

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• 7. UPDATING - Need to increase knowledge and
  skill in updating the existing employees within
  the civil service etc.

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Followings are the Challenges and Opportunities

• 1. Election - Help in conducting independent and
  fair election for constitutional assembly.
• 2. Devolving - Help in devolving state power to
  various self governing units to be created in
  future.
• 3. Self governing units - Help in establishing
  various self governing units in regions,
  districts and village level.

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• This function calls for designing new
  administrative institutions human resources
  management, financial resources management,
  suitable legal frame work and coordinating
  between various self-governing units etc.

4. SECURITY - Help ensure security of life and
property in society 5. LAW-HUMAN RIGHTS - Help
maintain rule of law and human right 6. SOCIAL
HARMONY - Help in extending social harmony in
community and society
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• 7. TRANSPARENCY - Help making every public
  affair transparent.
• 8. IMPROVEMENT - Improve the quality of service
  delivery to public
• 9. FIGHT CORRUPTION - Fight corruption and
  irregularities within the organization.
• 10. ALLEVIATE POVERTY - Focus on poverty
  alleviation

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• THANK YOU