The Gen Z group’s lockdown of Surkhet Rural Municipality in Baitadi, which began on Ashoj 24 (October 10) demanding public access to information, has continued for three weeks without resolution. The group has put forward an 11-point list of demands.
Group leader Bishal Bhatt said, “We have raised these demands to uphold transparency and good governance in the municipality. Unless our demand for information is met immediately, we will not lift the lockdown.”
The group is demanding the public disclosure of all plans, programs, and expenditures implemented in the municipality since 2074 BS. Their main demands include detailed breakdowns of recurrent and capital expenditures for the fiscal year 2081/82, allowances and maintenance costs of representatives and staff, and copies of executive meeting decisions.
They have also called for the removal of contract employees working without approved positions as per provincial and federal directives, and for the implementation of relevant circulars from higher government authorities.
Other demands include recovering funds identified in the Auditor General’s report, prioritizing essential sectors such as education, health, communication, electricity, transport, disaster management, and drinking water, cutting down the ward-level miscellaneous budget of Rs. 1.35 million, and forming a Local Youth Council to oversee youth-targeted budgets.
Municipality Chairperson Ammar Kunwar said that despite several rounds of dialogue over the past three weeks, no conclusion has been reached. “Discussions are ongoing. Some points remain unresolved, especially the issue of removing contract employees,” he stated.
According to Chairperson Kunwar, the municipality opposes the removal of contract employees, citing possible disruption to essential services. “If all 170 contract employees are dismissed at once, schools and health institutions will be forced to shut down. We’ve requested the Gen Z group to reconsider,” he said.
He further mentioned that the municipality has asked the group to first end the lockdown, saying, “As long as the municipality remains locked, the process of providing the requested information cannot proceed. The lockdown must be lifted first, then the information process can move forward.”
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