Aspects of Development
In June 1997, the local press commented on the fate of several development projects that were implemented fifteen or more years ago through bilateral assistance.
Twenty years ago, the Norwegian Development Agency (NORAD) and UNESCO have allocated Rs 17.5 million (US $299.000 at the current exchange rate) for the construction of 25 hostels for girls. The objective was to make it possible for young women to attend secondary schools, in order to attain the necessary education level that would qualify them to become teachers. At that time, there were very few female secondary school graduates. The administration of the hostels was taken over during 1992-93 by the Nepalese government. Subsequently, the condition of the hostels started to deteriorate since no repairs had been undertaken, although the local government has been allocating Rs 2.52 million (US $43,000) annually toward their maintenance. Toilet and bathroom facilities are lacking, and some of the hostels are apparently on the verge of collapse and had to be closed down.
Fifteen years ago, the Dhankuta Community Health Assistants Campus was established at an approximate cost of Rs 80 million (US $1,350,000) with Canadian assistance. The campus stopped functioning four years ago and the buildings are on the verge of collapse due a lack of any arrangements for their repairs and maintenance.
When we first initiated development assistance to the villages of southern Mahabharat twelve years ago, the Australian government was supporting a reforestation nursery program in Kabhre Palanchok district with the slogan "Let us Plant a Seedling". Nurseries were established in the majority of Kabhre district's VDCs and a local person was being paid a small monthly salary to maintain the village nursery. When the Australian support ended that was also the end of the nurseries. Although these nurseries were highly desirable for the enhancement of the district's environment, there was no provision made for their continuation by the local government once the external assistance ended.
The favorite keyword today is sustainable development. However, the question is sustainable by whom. The majority funds of bilateral development aid are being channeled through the local government and also implemented under its auspices. The government is not directly engaged in project implementation, it undertakes only project planning and design, and the implementation is tendered to private contractors. Whoever tenders the lowest bid is usually awarded the contract.
During the past several years, we have been able to observe the government's involvement in the implementation of bilateral development programs. The Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation has been implementing a variety of projects with financial assistance from the European Economic Community. A small number of water systems were also implemented in the far western part of southern Mahabharat region of Kabhre Palanchok district. Large number of these projects implemented by government appointed contractors reflected shoddy workmanship and skimping on essential project components. Many projects broke down within a few months after implementation. Although repairs were ultimately made to the broken water systems, there is still no provision in place to assure future sustainability of these projects. Some projects in the agricultural sector have never been fully completed by the contractors.
The local government usually makes only a token contribution toward bilateral aid. For instance, the cost of the program referred to in the previous paragraph is shared as follows: the local government contributes an amount equal to 7.6% of the EEC contribution and the benefiting villages make an in-kind contribution equal to 2.4%. In spite of its own small contribution, the local government makes all the major decisions relating to project selection and the manner of implementation.