View Points

Local-level elections were held twice in the country after the government structure of the Federal Republic. In 2017, elections in all 753 were held in three phases 2017 and one phase in 2022. Elected representatives are doing exemplary work in the field of human rights. What kind of works are being implemented in the field of education and health during your tenure?

Presented:- Public opinion prepared by INSEC Rupandehi District Representative,  Rima B.C, with some local level representatives of Rupandehi district.

Ramakrishna Khad

Mayor, Tilottama Municipality

It has been a year since I was elected. During this one year, we are working intending to raise the quality of education in community and institutional schools, and developing the physical infrastructure. The state of education will develop if children from poor, Dalit, Madhesi, Tharu, and marginalized families have access to education. We have after increasing the improvement provided of lunch money from Rs. 15 -Rs.25. The schools have prohibited junk food. We have decided not to receive any allowances, or service facilities in five years’ tenure and instead distribute the amount as scholarships to 147 children from financially marginalized families studying in public schools.

Currently, nearly 20,000 children are admitted and study in public schools. The number of students has increased in our tenure compared to the past. The main reason for the increase in the number of students in public schools is the management of mid-day meals. A teacher guest program has been conducted to improve the quality of education. We have arranged buses and auto rickshaws and diesel to attract the students to the community schools.

Two 15-bedded hospitals have been constructed in the municipality to improve health services. Furthermore, 17 health posts and one Ayurveda hospital are managed in a rights-friendly manner. Furthermore training classes and trainings have been conducted for the capacity development of health workers. With the aim of providing access to health to all citizens, we have arranged an ultrasound service for 650 rupees and a whole-body blood test for 1500 rupees. Health services for the visually impaired and a birthing center for childbirth have been arranged within the health institution emphasizing the delivery program with priority.

In Tilottma Municipality, there are 29 deaths per 1000 newborns and 12 underweight infants per 150 births. We have conducted programs to eradicate the issue. Since the condition of mental health is complicated, we have provided counseling services to improve it.

Phanender Sharma,

Mayor, Sainamaina Municipality

Since I was elected, I have been working on education and health as the first priority. There was no uniformity in community and institutional schools. The dropout rate in public schools was high. Before the school provided lunch money of Rs.15, where the students started bringing lunch from home and handing the money to the parents. We decided to serve food worth Rs 20 at the school, instead of providing lunch money. Junk food is prohibited in schools. Earlier, classes were conducted in two shifts in the school. Now both the classes have been brought into operation from 10 am to 4 pm. As a result, students spend their entire time in school learning. We have arranged desks and benches in schools. Emphasis has been placed on teaching and learning in connection with technology.

There is a free ambulance service throughout the district for the underprivileged, Dalits,  people with disabilities, women, indigenous communities, Madhesi, Muslims, and minorities within the municipality. Similarly, free ambulance service is provided from hospital to home and from home to hospital for child delivery. In addition to the service provided by the Nepal government in the management of nutritious food for delivery, we have distributed Rs.1000 as an incentive.

Khelraj Pandey

Mayor, Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City

After I was elected, two 16-bedded hospitals with oxygen are in the final stage of construction in Butwal sub-metropolitan city. The federal government has financed 15 beds and Butwal sub-metropolitan city is investing for two beds. Similarly, the city has started a free cervical scanning service in collaboration with Amda Hospital to reduce the risk of cancer. Keeping in mind the nutrition of children born in government hospitals, Rs. 2,000 has been distributed as an incentive. There are 12 urban health clinics within the city. From which free examinations and medicines are distributed. For education, auto engineering at VTI and medical education at Amda Hospital have been started. Efforts are being made to provide the best education in the country for VSC AG studies in Semlar. Discussions with government and private campuses are underway on how to improve the quality of education by removing shortcomings.

Dhurba Prasad Khakurel

Mayor, Devdaha Municipality

My first decision after being elected was to make the Municipality fully insured regarding health and to bring quality to education. We have been providing a 10-bed City Hospital service with four doctors. Free health insurance to marginalized families through various health insurance programs. The city hospital arranges 98 types of free medicines distributed by the government for people who have health insurance. 80% of the modern design building has been completed with the investment of the municipality. No one should lose their life due to financial instability and for that, we have been providing insurance of Rs. 3500 rupees for 5 families and Rs. 700 extra for health insurance if there are more than 5 members. We have moved forward by ensuring the citizens that the city government is always there for those who have a financial crisis.

Although the three levels of government are responsible for the education sector, quality education is absent, we are moving forward in bringing quality education that is affordable for all. Classes in Devdaha Municipality used to be conducted in the morning and afternoon, after my election, the classes are now conducted only at a time.

Manjit Kumar Yadav

Chairperson, Osatiya Rural Municipality

 It has been a year since I have been elected. We have already done some exemplary work in the field of education and health. The state of public school education was extremely poor which is why we have held meetings with the school principals and thoroughly discussed how to bring quality to education along with sharing ideas.

We have implemented rules like, Every teacher making a session plan for teaching, electronic attendance for the teachers, encouraging students to child-friendly scholarly activities, and management of study materials and using them practically. We have also moved forward with investigations through mobile phones to check on the progress. We have also taken the initiative to recruit teachers and provide them with experience exchange programs and training to make teaching and learning effective.

We have also made efforts in health sectors like awareness programs regarding various communicable and non-communicable diseases. Likewise, We have mobilized women’s health volunteers to conduct door-to-door programs focusing on health and sanitation. Free ambulance service and nutritional food are provided for women after delivery. Patients with blood deficiency are provided with free blood in coordination with the Nepal Red Cross Society. In addition, We are in the process of purchasing adequate land for a 15-bed hospital at the village level. We are working on how the rural municipality can increase investment in the health and education sector and provide education and health service access to all citizens.