Approval of Annual Policy and Program for Kathmandu Metropolitan City
The annual policy and program for the upcoming financial year 2080-081 has been approved for Kathmandu Metropolitan City. The policy program was passed after discussions during the second meeting of the 13th session held today at the Rastriya Sabha Griha. In the first meeting of the convention, Shah, the head of the Metropolitan Municipality, reviewed the program of the current financial year in 52 points and presented policies in 11 points, along with tactics in 125 points for the coming year.
The long-term vision of the metropolitan city is to become a 'Cultural city, prosperous metropolis.' Urban development, security, and order are included in the policy and strategy based on this vision. Shah stated that the program includes initiatives such as establishing one park and one playground per ward, creating a clean, beautiful, and dust-free metropolis, setting up accessible pharmacies, establishing and operating health promotion centers, generating at least 5,000 new jobs, promoting self-sufficiency in organic food and vegetables, and improving road conditions by making them pothole-free. Additionally, the program aims to plant at least 100,000 saplings.
The key focus of the operating policy is to develop and sustain urban services, facilities, and urban governance. It includes initiatives to operate a transport system based on a one-stop service center, promote traditional food and beverages through branding and export, complete 10 Mahanagara Gaurav schemes within 3 years to benefit the maximum population, and ensure effective urban services.
During the meeting, presentations were made on various aspects, including education, health, infrastructure, culture, heritage and tourism, environment management, institutional development and governance, revenue and finance management, urban transport, law and human rights, agriculture and livestock, social development, sports, cooperatives, international relations, disaster management, urban development strategies, building standards, public-private partnership, information and technology, green promotion projects, and urban planning commission.
The strategies for this year include objectives such as 'Home education, the desire of a metropolis,' 'One school, one nurse,' 'One school, one social facilitator,' 'Accessible health services, support for citizens,' 'Accessible pharmacy,' 'Dust-free Kathmandu,' 'Beautiful metropolis,' 'Bright city,' and 'My metropolis.' Additionally, there are action policies such as 'Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Wealth of the Metropolis,' 'Nyaya Chautari,' 'Agropooling,' 'Sathi Metropolis,' 'One Toll, One Sports Infrastructure,' 'Flood Solution,' 'Online Service for Governance,' 'The Metropolis Sees,' 'Mero Rahar, Harit Sahar,' and 'Mission 2100.'
During today's meeting, 17 members of the municipal council shared their views. They suggested incorporating technology and equipment in sanitation practices, reviewing the quantity of mid-day meals provided in schools, providing stability to contract employees who have been in service for years by completing the process, ensuring sustainable operation of information technology-based services, providing free medicines at the ward level, and addressing issues such as banning smoking and the sale of tobacco products in policies and programs.
Furthermore, suggestions were received regarding the restoration of tax rights to the local level, assigning responsibility to Dalit members for Dalit-targeted programs, and collecting sewerage fees while collaborating with the Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Ltd.
