KATHMANDU: The Gandaki provincial government has decided to abolish seven directorates and merge their functions into relevant ministries, along with cutting 185 staff positions, as part of efforts to reduce rising administrative expenses.
According to Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey, this move is expected to immediately reduce the province’s financial burden by approximately Rs 500 million.
The decision was taken during the provincial cabinet meeting held Monday morning. The government plans to have the related ministries directly provide services previously handled by the abolished directorates, consolidate some district-level offices, and send back staff hired by the federal government.
This restructuring follows findings from the “Provincial Administrative Structure Review Study and Recommendation Committee,” led by former government secretary Sharad Chandra Paudel, formed in April. The report concluded that the province’s administrative structure had become overly burdensome and inefficient.
However, the government’s decision has sparked strong dissatisfaction among employees. Official trade unions have criticized the move as unilateral and lacking adequate consultation with stakeholders. They warn that the decision will lower employee morale and negatively impact professional development.
Employees also complain about increased uncertainty due to the lack of clarity regarding their future roles and job descriptions following the restructuring.
While the decision marks a step forward in reducing administrative costs in Gandaki Province, effectively managing the staff from the dissolved directorates and ensuring smooth service delivery remain major challenges for the government.
Experts say that only by simultaneously boosting employee morale and improving service efficiency can this administrative restructuring be considered successful.
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