Presentation on Devolution of Power

1
Presentation on Devolution of Power

• - By Mukti Rijal

2
Devolution of Power

• Decentralization
• Decentre Reversing centralization or opposite
  of centre

Decentralization means i) Transfer of power and
authority from central institution to a lower
or local levels of a governmental
system ii) Transfer of responsibility for
planning management and resource raising from
central government agencies to subordinate
units.
3
Devolution of Power

• Various Degrees of Transfer (Forms of
  decentralization)

i) Deconcentration The transfer to lower levels
within the central or national government itself
(sectoral/spatial shifting work load without
authority to decide, power to control and direct
its recipient at the local level) ii) Delegation
The transfer of local government or other
organizations wholly or partly outside the domain
of the central govt. but remain accountable to it.
4
Devolution of Power

• Various Degrees of Transfer (Forms of
  decentralization)

iii) Devolution ? Clear jurisdiction ?
Outside direct control of central govt. ? True
form of decentralization/democratic
decentralization/local autonomy
/self-governance iv) Privatization Transfer to
private entities v) Debureaucratization
Transfer to voluntary or non governmental sector
5
Devolution of Power

• Rationale of Devolution

i) Differentiated and pluralist structure of
govt ii) Grassroots political
process iii) Participatory bottom up
development iv) Sustainable development v) Appr
opriate planning/implementation vi) Local
leadership (Nursery of leadership
building) vii) Local and institutional resource
base
"My idea of decentralized governance is that
it is complete republic independent of its
neighbours for its vital wants and yet
interdependent for many others in which
dependence is a necessity" - M. K. Gandhi
6
Devolution of Power

• Devolution (Political Decentralization) in Nepal

• Monopolistic non-competitive political devolution
  (Partyless Panchayat polity)
• Pluralistic competitive political devolution
  (Post 1990 phase especially following the
  enactment of Local Self Governance act, 1999)

7
Devolution of Power

• Key Issues of Devolution in Nepal

i) Lack of political commitment ii) Formalism
vs. Realism iii) Lack of role and mandate
delineation (function/functionaries) iv) Lack
of institutional and resource capacity v) Patron
-client relationship vi) Absence of active
citizenship
8
Devolution of Power

• Future Strategy

i) Constitutional space/recognition ii) Building
block of democracy/self-governance iii) Promotio
n of civic national values iv) Focus on creating
space for civic dialogue serving the citizens
and improving social outcomes V) Resource
sharing/assignment v) Concurrent/jurisdictions
in case of federalism (centre and province)