Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City, Mahalaxmi Municipality, Tarkeshwor Municipality, Tilottama Municipality, Indrawati Rural Municipality, Gajuri Rural Municipality, Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality, Rapti Rural Municipality, Janaki Rural Municipality, Sarumarani Rural Municipality, Panini Rural Municipality, and Susta Rural Municipality.

Policy Research Institute held extensive discussions with stakeholders from various local governments across the country as part of its ongoing study on the law-making process and implementation status at the local level. Researchers from Center for Governance and Federal Affairs Policy of the institute facilitated the discussions.

Discussion programs were organized in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City, Mahalaxmi Municipality (Lalitpur), Tarkeshwor Municipality (Kathmandu), Tilottama Municipality (Rupandehi), Indrawati Rural Municipality (Sindhupalchok), Gajuri Rural Municipality (Dhading), Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality (Chitwan), Rapti Rural Municipality (Dang), Janaki Rural Municipality (Kailali), Sarumarani Rural Municipality (Pyuthan), Panini Rural Municipality (Arghakhanchi), and Susta Rural Municipality (Nawalparasi West).

Elected representatives of local governments—including mayors, deputy mayors, chairs, vice-chairs, and members of legislative committees—as well as representatives of women, Dalits, and marginalized communities, political parties, administrative chiefs, and staff from judicial committees and legal departments, participated in the discussion programs at each study site. 

The discussion centered on laws enacted by local governments, their effectiveness, community participation in the legal process, and other pertinent topics. Key issues raised during the discussions included ambiguity in the laws, a lack of legal expertise and skilled human resources, and insufficient coordination among federal, provincial, and local governments. Participants emphasized the necessity for cooperation and resource management between federal and provincial governments, public awareness initiatives, and the encouragement of active community participation as essential for addressing these challenges.

It was also emphasized that the institutional capacity of local governments must be further strengthened to effectively implement the exclusive and concurrent powers granted to them under the federal structure established by the Constitution. Discussions included the importance of enhancing coordination among local, provincial, and federal governments, empowering local leadership in policymaking, amending legal frameworks to fit local needs, and finding ways to make service delivery more technology-friendly. Participants noted the necessity of improving the legal and administrative capacities of local governments and initiating policy reforms.

News draft and pictures: Ashok Pandey
Translation: Soniya Bashyal

Participants:

Mahalakshmi Municipality, Lalitpur (25 February, 2025)
Hari Govind Shrestha (Mayor)
Shashi Dhar Pokharel (Coordinator, Legislative Committee)
Vishnu Bahadur Roka (Member, Legislative Committee)
Kala Bhandari (Member, Legislative Committee)
Pradeep Poudel (Chief Administrative Officer)
Binita Sharma (Officer, Sixth)
Shivalal Adhikari (Officer, Sixth)
Ganesh Bahadur Thapa (Officer, Sixth)
Sunita Yonghang (Officer, Eighth)

Tarkeshwar Municipality, Dharmasthali Kathmandu (3 March, 2025)
Krishna Hari Maharjan (Mayor)
Ishwor Prasad Acharya (Chief Administrative Officer)
Hari Krishna Aryal (Education Committee Member)
Shova Shrestha (Officer, Eighth)
Ujjwal Neupanne (Engineer)
Sirjana Ghimire (Employment Coordinator)
Ghaniyat Rai Yadav (Livestock Development Officer)
Anju Basnet (Member, Legislative Committee)
Rita Sigdel Shrestha (Officer, Sixth)
Rachana Sharma (Officer, Sixth)
Ashok Kumar Shrestha (Information and Communication Technology Officer)
Vinod Kumar Shah (Public Health Officer)
Dhan Bahadur pun (Principal)
Pratima Mishra (Officer, Eighth)
Ravina Maharjan (Principal)
Manish Shrestha (Mayor Secretariat)
Sabina Aryal (Account Officer)
Thirtharaj Thapa Magar (Senior Section Officer)
Sagar Aryal (Section Officer)

Gajuri Rural Municipality, Dhading (23 March, 2025)
Ganeshlal Shrestha (Chairperson)
Sharmila Vesural (Vice Chairperson)
Hom Bahadur Raut (Chief Administrative Officer)
Taranath Bhandari (Ward chairperson)
Pujan Prashad Adhikari (Senior Section Officer)
Amrit Prasad Poudel (Account Officer)
Sharmila Subedi (Agriculture Officer)
Sundar Kumar Shrestha (Health Section Coordinator)
Saksham Sharma (Engineer)
Asmin Khulal (Livestock Service Technician)
Jamuna Sharma (Judicial Facilitator)
Goma Dhakal (Enterprise Development Facilitator)
Savitri Gyawali (Employment Coordinator)
Anisha Pandey (MIS Operator)
Subudhi Dewari (Kabiraj, Sixth)
Jitendra Kumar Shrestha (Amin)
Subash Ghimire (Information Technology Officer)
Akendra Chepang (Store Section Chief)
Santosh Poudel (Education Officer)
Saraswati Silwal (Women Development Community)
Dron Kadel (Ward Chairperson)
Bhakta Bahadur Tamang (Ward Chairman)
Badri Prashad Jamakatel (Ward Chairperson)
Dev Raj Ojha (Wad Chairperson)

Ichhakamana Rural Municipality, Chitwan (23 March, 2025)
Daan Bahadur Gurung (Chairperson)
Maya Silwal (Vice Chairperson)
Chandrakant Basnet (Chief Administrative Officer)
Puncha Bahadhur. Chepang (Ward chairperson, ward no. 2)
Rudra Prasad Upreti (Ward chairperson, ward no. 4)
Tej Bahadur Sherchan (Ward chairperson, ward no. 5)
Laxman Chepang (Ward chairperson, ward no. 6)
Ram Shree Gharti (Member, Legislative Committee)
Hari. Devkota (Health Section Chief)
Ashisha Tripathi (Agriculture Officer)
Krishna Sapkota (Judicial Facilitator)
Kamal Raut (Engineer)
Udgam Timalsina (Account Officer)
Parvati Magarathi (Assistant Women Development Officer)

Susta Rural Municipality, Nawalparasi, (Bardaghat Susta West) (24 March, 2026)
Teknarayand Upadhaya (Chairperson)
Humlal Bhusal (Chief Administrative Officer)
Prabhunath Yadav (Ward Chairperson)
Sarmila Darji (Ward Member)
Vishnu Prasad Dhakal (Officer, Sixth)
Devendra Ghimire (Veterinary Doctor)
Krishnalal Mukhiya (Ward Chairperson)
Vishnu Prasad Dhakal (Officer, Sixth)
Ganesh Panthi (Assistant, Fourth)
Vijay Adhikari (Assistant, Fifth)
Suraj Gyawali (Sub-Engineer)
Chabilal Aale (Assistant, Fifth)
Chandra Bahadur Buda Magar (Assistant, Fifth)
Kesari Devi Bhattarai (Health Inspector)
Saharukh Sah (Engineer)
Kirand Kumari Chaudhary (Assistant, Fourth Agriculture Technician)
Reshma Kumari Joshi (Assistant, Fourth Agriculture Technician)
Ramesh Badhai (Assistant, Fourth)
Nil Bahadur Gurung (Ward Chairperson)
Muna Pun (Member, Legislative Committee)
Gita Chaudhary (Vice Chairperson)
Ganesh Prasad Upadhyaya (Ward Member)
Gyan Prasad Neupane (Ward Member)

Sita Devi Tharuni (Member, Executive Committee)

Ashok Kumar Chaudhary (Ward Chairperson)

Butwal Sub-Metropolitan, Rupandehi (24 March, 2025)
Mitramadi Khanal (Chief Administrative Officer)
Tulsa Aryal (Director)
Hari Prasad Aacharya (Director)
Ghanasyam panta (Legal Expert)
Dhrub Bhattarai (Law Officer)

Tilotama Municipality, Rupandehi (25 March, 2025)
Ramkrishna Khand (Mayor)
Jaleshor Devi Chaudhary (Deputy Mayor)
Mr. Gangaram Acharya (Chief Administrative Officer)
Dil Bahadur Bhattarai (Wad Chairperson)
Gyan Prashad Poudel (Health Section Chief)
Radha Shahi (Member, Legislative Committee)
Sabitra Panthi Acharya (Member, Executive Committee)
E. Manish Khanal (Senior Engineer)
Samjhana Bhandari (Officer)
Goma Gyawali (Officer)
Alpa Ghimire (Senior Social Mobilizer)
Vinod Gyawali (Officer, Sixth)
Yuvraj Panthi (Officer, Sixth)
Krishna Prasad. Pandey (Officer)
Minshu Sahi (Ward Member)
kalpana Thapa Roka (Ward Member)
Rabi Senchuri (Member, Executive Committee)
Madhav Pokhrel (Section Officer)
Asvin Poudel (Ward Chairperson)
Gorshe Nath Khanal (Officer)
Parshuram Kunwar (Assistant Livestock Technician)
Prakash Gyawali (Senior Kabiraj Inspector)
Dhomlal Bhusal (Officer, Sixth)
Hariram Kunwar (Office Helper)
Arjun B. Chhetri (Mayor Secretariat)
Devkey Tharu (Member, Executive Committee)
Gopal Prasad Ghimire (Member, Executive Committee)
Shova Khanal (Assistant, Fifth)

Sarumarani Rural Municipality Baddada, Pyuthan (25 March, 2025)
Basanta Khadka (Vice Chairperson)
Laxman Acharya (Chief Administrative Officer)
Chinta Bahadur SauBha Magar (Spokesperson / Ward Chairperson)
Tekendra Rayamaji (Health Section)
Pushplal Shahi (Education Section)
Top Bahadur Shahi (Economic Section)
Shiva Neupane (Information Section)
Ishwor GC. (Agriculture Section)
Sadhana Singh (Tax Section)
Keshab Darlami (Infrastructure Section)
Anju Bhat (Women and Children Section)

Rapti Rural Municipality, Dang (26 March, 2025)
Narayan Raut (Chief Administrative Officer)
Damodar Acharya (Officer)
Bikash Gyawali (Officer)
Mumaram Bhusal (Employment Coordinator)
Walchan Gurung (Information Technology Officer)
Barsati Gadaria (Agriculture Technician)
Pradeep Prasad Baidik (Technical Section)
Narayan R C (MIS Operator)
Tul Bahadur Kunwar (Communication Coordinator)
Geeta Chaudhary (Drinking Water and Sanitation Technician)
Binita Chaudhary (Employment Development Facilitator)
Vipin Bhusal (Forest Technician)
Reshmraj Adhikari (Chief Account)
Vishnu Pokharel (Coordinator, Legislative Member)
Bhopalal Thapa Magar (Ward Member)
Tulsa B.K (Ward Member)
Ranjana Sunam (Member, Legislation Committee)

Janaki Rural Municipality, Kailali (27 March, 2025)
Ganesh Chaudhary (Chairperson)
Lalmati Devi Kadariya (Vice Chairperson)
Aashish Chaudhary (Chief Administrative Officer)
Suresh Kumar Chaudhary (Ward Chairperson)
Dipendra Kumar Kadariya (Ward Chairperson)
Nar Bahadur Kumal (Member, Executive Committee)
Netra Prasad-Jaishi (Section Chief)
Hiralal Chaudhary (Social Development Section Chief)
Rapta Adhikari (Employment Coordinator)
Anil Chaudhary (Land Section Chief)
Khem Bahadur Kadariya (Assistant, Fifth)
Mewalal Chaudhary (Administration Section Chief)
Santram Kadariya (Computer Operator)
Nar Karki (Officer)
Lalbir Chaudhary (Officer)
Dinesh Majhi (Accounting Officer)
Basudev Pant (Internal Auditor)
Aananda Updhyaya (Cooperative Section)
Raj Kumar Chaudhary (Assistant, Fifth)
Gangaram Chaudhary (Assistant, Fifth)
Lekhnath Upadhyaya (Sub-engineer)
Radha Bhul (Member, Executive Committee)
Pabitra Bishwokarma (Member, Executive Committee)
Parbati Devi Dagaura Tharu (Member, Executive Committee)
Lakshmi Chaudhary (Member, Executive Committee)
Dharmananda Kapadi (Education Officer)
Jit Bahadur Chaudhary (Health Section Chief)
Jashodha kumari kadariya (Information Technology Section)

Dhangadi Sub Metropolitan (27 March, 2025)
Lok Raj Upadhaya (Chief Administrative Officer)
Khaka Singha Kunyedaga (Law Officer)
Yogendra Bahadur Chand (Internal Auditor)
Lekhnath Ojha (Tax Officer)
Suru Prasad Pant (Statistics Officer)
Tek Bahadur Bista (Officer)
Yogendra Bahadur Aawasthi (Health Officer)
Krishna Prasad Upandhyay (Accounting Officer)
Upendra Prasad Bhatt (Engineer)
Gyanu Giri (Admin Officer)
Surendra Singh Karki (Admin Officer)

Padeni Rural Municipality, Arghakhachi (30 March, 2025)
Narmada Gautam Poudel (Vice Chairperson)
Seskanta Ghimire (Chief Administrative Officer)
Raj Kumar K.C.  (Accountant)
Kamal Prasad Neupane (Administrative Head)
Moha Raj Poudel (Engineer)
Ramchandra Chudali (Internal Auditor)
Sandeep Poudel (MIS Operator)
Birendra Gautam (Assistant Technician)
Shobhakar Bhusal (Assitant, Fourth)
Rajan Mahatra (Assistant)
Lokendra Khadka (Livestock Health Technician)
Umanath Poudel (Sub-Engineer)
Hari Prasad Banjade (Representative)
Arun Kumar Chaudhary (Assistant Fourth level)
Uttam Neupane (Information Technology Officer)
Nisha Gautam (Psychosocial Consultant)
Tilakaram Banjade (Forest Technician)
Meghraj Poudel (Officer Sixth)
 Anupa Acharya (Vaidya)
Parvati B.K (Wad Member / Coordinator, Legislative Committee)

Policy Research Institute
Dr. Mukti Rijal (Senior Research Fellow)
Ashok Pandey (Research Fellow)
Keshab Bhattarai (Consultant)