Public Policymaking Process in Local Government: A study of Dharan

Public policy is central to the functioning of a good government, ensuring the effective delivery of services, promoting development, and addressing societal challenges. This paper examines the public policymaking process in Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City during the period from 2074 BS to 2081 BS. It explores the role of local government in fostering good governance principles such as transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness. By analyzing the policies enacted, challenges faced, and innovations implemented, the paper offers insights into the governance dynamics of Dharan and highlights recommendations for improving public policy processes.

INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the study. Public policy refers to the course of action taken by government authorities to address issues and achieve objectives that benefit the public. A well-structured policymaking process is essential for promoting good governance, which emphasizes accountability, transparency, inclusiveness, and the rule of law. In Nepal, the implementation of the 2072 BS Constitution introduced federal governance, empowering local governments like Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City to play a key role in policymaking. This study explores the public policymaking processes in Dharan during the period 2074 BS to 2081 BS, focusing on how these processes align with good governance principles. Local government is an important part of Nepal's federal structure. Public policy plays a central role in shaping the governance structure of any country. It acts as a guide to public institutions and provides the framework through which society is empowered to formulate necessary policies, develop plans, and serve as a service provider, as well as governance defined by transparency, accountability, rule of law, and inclusive participation are key to achieving sustainable development in any community (Dahal, 2021). In Nepal, local governments have gained prominence after the decentralization of power through the Local Administration Act and the Constitution of Nepal, which provides more autonomy to local bodies such as municipalities. The local levels, including the sub-metropolitan, have been active in the public policymaking process since 2074 with the local level elections.

1.2 Introduction of Dharan Dharan is a city of historical importance and diverse cultural diversity in Nepal, located in Sunsari District, Koshi Province, in the eastern part of Nepal. Vijaypur is the head of Dharan city, which has a history dating back to the Mahabharata period and was the Kirat capital in later times. From the history of Vijaypur, the legend of the fall of Sati Devi's tooth and the location of the Dantakali temple and the records of the Pindeshwar temple, which was rebuilt by the king of Bengal 500 years ago, this place has archaeological, mythological and historical and tourist importance. It is said that the place where the present-day Dharan city is located was originally a dense forest and the name of today's Dharan city was derived from the Dharan (Dharap) prepared by the woodcutters during the plucking of this forest. A long time ago in Vijayapur, Dharan, which began in the 1950s with a small settlement in the plains by felling a dense forest, was founded in 1950, the then Rana Prime Minister Shree 3 Chandra Shamsher inaugurated Chandranagar (now old Bazaar) by 1990, Shree Judda Shamsher is found in the history of Judda Nagar (present new Bazaar). Since the establishment of the British Gurkha Recruitment Centre in Dharan for the Purbanchal in 2010, the settlement and movement in Dharan has increased significantly. Dharan Municipality was declared in 2017. In 2018, Nepal was divided into 14 regions and 75 districts, including the headquarters of Koshi region. In the beginning, there were only 11 wards. As per the decision of the Council of Ministers on 25th Baishakh 2071 BS, the area of Bajhogara village panchayat in the east and Ghopa village panchayat in the west was expanded and divided into 19 wards in 2035 BS and again divided into 23 wards was also established in Dharan municipality. In accordance with the decision of the Government of Nepal (Council of Ministers) dated 16th Mangsir, 2071 BS, Vishnupaduka Ga.Bi.Sa. Dharan Municipality has been declared as a sub-metropolitan city

by creating 27 wards in Dharan Municipality. According to the decision of the Federal Restructuring Commission, the current structure has been reconstructed in 20 wards. Dharan, a place inhabited by different castes and tribes and famous in the field of art, literature, culture and sports, is now developing as a beautiful city with education, health, tourist and business infrastructure and is trying to become a model municipal corporation not only in the eastern region but also in Nepal (Dharan-Sub-Metropolitan-City, 2024). It was inaugurated by Shri Hariprasad Giri on 30th Kartik, 2017 BS. He was the Bada Hakim. The first city chief was Shri Kedarnath Khanal (1960-1962 AD), while the mayors are Govinda Raj Moktan (1968-1974 AD), Dhyan Bahadur Rai (1992-1997 AD), Manoj Menyangbo (1997-2007 AD), Tara Subba (2017-2018 AD), Tilak Rai (2019-2022 AD) and currently Harkaraj Rai (2022 AD) respectively (Wikipedia, n.d.).

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 2. Statement of the problem: Dharan Sub-metropolitan city, although many policies have been made from 2074 to 2081, studies of the effectiveness, participation status, and implementation status of those policies appear to be insufficient. It needs to highlight the challenges and possibilities seen in the policymaking process. (a) Urbanization and pollutions The rapid urbanization of Dharan has increased environmental pollution. The green environment of the region is in crisis due to uncontrolled construction work and weaknesses in waste management and the impact of global warming. (b) The Pressure of Population In Dharan, the pressure of migration from the rural areas of the hill districts to the cities has affected basic services such as drinking water, transportation and Sanitation. (c) The Administrative Challenges There is a lack of transparency and accountability in local government. The problem of delays in the implementation of community plans is also significant. (d) Social Inequality Social inequality between different castes and communities in Dharan has led to gender, economic, and educational divides.

OBJECTIVES 3. Objectives The general objectives: The main objective of the study is to find out the role of public policy making process in local government. The specific objectives: Analyzing the public policy making process in the local government in Dharan Sub-metropolitan city. To study the challenges in the formulation and implementation of public policies in local government and the participation of women, youth, disabled, elderly, minorities, backward class communities. DELIMITATION 4. The boundaries of the study: Duration of study: After the local elections of 2074 B.S., it will remain until the month of Manshir in 2081 B.S.. Area of study: Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City. The topic of the study is: Public Policy Making Process in Local Government: A Study of Dharan.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE 5. Review of Literature Local governance can be defined as the effective and accountable management of public affairs characterized by transparency, participation, rule of law, efficiency, and accountability. It encompasses the fair distribution of resources, the protection of human rights and the promotion of social justice, which aims to promote the welfare and development of society (UNDP, 2020). The public policymaking process in local government is the process by which local representatives and communities formulate the necessary policies for governance at the local level, with the participation of all at the local level. It involves the formulation of procedural principles for how public affairs should be conducted, how public resources should be managed and measured in a preferential manner. The public policymaking process in local government ensures that public officials act in the best interest of the public, adhere to high standards of conduct, and maintain public trust, thereby strengthening good governance (Pliscoff, 2019). The role of local government entails a meticulous analysis of local bodies. It highlights the importance of community participation, decentralization, and inclusivity in local government policy decisions. The study highlights the major challenges in the policy formulation process and implementation, the status of participation of women, youth, disabled, elderly, minorities, backward classes and marginalized communities, and the effectiveness of local governments, and emphasizes the importance of citizen participation at the local level in many other areas.

The main aspects are: a. Role of Decentralization: The study points out how decentralization has facilitated policy decisions in Dharan sub-metropolis, as well as the limitations of resource mobilization and transparency. b. Inclusion: The study covers the contribution of women, Dalits, youth, and marginalized sections in the policy making process, which shows the need for inclusive and long-term policies. c. Resource Management: The resource management capacity of the local government also includes the problems and solutions seen during the formulation of policy and its implementation. d. Inter-Governmental Coordination: The study suggests improving collaboration between local governments and the federal government, which makes policymaking more effective (Gautam, 2021). RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 6.1 Research Methodology: Methodology is the broad, theoretical analysis of the processes used in the field of research. It includes a theoretical examination of the body of methods and theories related to the field of study. The process by which researchers conduct their research is called research methodology. It demonstrates researchers' approach to defining problems and objectives, as well as how they present conclusions based on the data obtained during the research period. This research design and methods chapter will also provide guidance on how to approach the results of research within the goals of the study. The study is a qualitative method.

6.2 Methods of collecting data: By organizing and synthesizing accessible information collection, literature review is an important aspect of evaluation. It helps the researcher to better understand the context, preferences and trends as well as address them during the study process. In this method secondary data collection method is used. As they remain. 6.3 Data: (Public Policies made in different years of Local Government of Dharan and their implementations.) YEARS BS 2074 BS 2075 BS 2076 BS 2077 BS 2078 BS 2079 BS 2080 BS 2081 Law 1 9 3 7 4 2 2 2 Procedure

10 3 3 5 1

Regulation 3 4
1
Directives
2 1
1
Table 1 Source: www.dharan.gov.np 6.4 Methods of data analysis: Public policy making process in local government: A study of Dharan (from 2074 BS to 2081 BS) found that the local government has made a total of four types of public policies with the involvement of representatives to run the local bodies. In which 1. The Law 2. The Procedures 3. The Regulations and 4. The Directives are here. The data is analyzed using graphs and tables in Excel Sheet. In 2074 BS, four policies were formulated, including one law and three regulations. In 2075 BS, more than all the policies were formulated, in which a total of 25 policies were made

including 9 laws, 10 procedures, 4 regulations and 2 guidelines. In 2076 BS, there were 3 laws, 3 procedures and 1 guideline, 7 laws and 3 procedures in 2077 BS, 4 laws, 5 procedures and 1 regulation in 2078 BS, 2 laws, 1 procedure and 1 directive in 2079 BS. There are only two laws. Which is found to be only an economic act and appropriation. PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA 7. Presentation and Analysis of Data: Figure 1 1 9 3 7 4 2 2 2 0 10 3 3 5 1 0 0 3 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 B.S. (2074) B.S. (2075) B.S. (2076) B.S. (2077) B.S. (2078) B.S. (2079) B.S. (2080) B.S. (2081) Public Policy and Year Law Procedure Regulation Directives

Figure 2 The process of policy formulation: Structure of the policy process: The role of public representatives and employees is seen to be important in the formulation of policy in Dharan. Participation in the development of policy: The participation of women and youth was found to be less than 30 percent. Implementation and Challenges: The implementation of the policy was found to be lacking in budget, lack of skilled technical manpower, and lack of coordination of intellectual personalities. 0 2 4 6 8 10

Law Procedure Regulation Directives Public Policy and Year B.S. (2074) B.S. (2075) B.S. (2076) B.S. (2077) B.S. (2078) B.S. (2079) B.S. (2080) B.S. (2081)

CONCLUSION 8. Conclusion The process of public policymaking in local government in Nepal has led to significant progress in contemporary policymaking practices in all communities. Decentralization of power, transparency and accountability measures, digitization of services, and civil service reforms have all contributed to democratic governance, service delivery, and citizen growth. All these factors create a better world of governance. The role of public administration in ensuring good governance is paramount in achieving an effective, transparent and accountable governance system. Public administration acts as the backbone of any government. By promoting the principles of good governance such as participation, accountability, transparency and accountability, public administration plays an important role in enhancing trust between the government and the public and the citizens as all public policies are formulated and implemented by the local governments. Finally, in the local government policymaking process, Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City has also seen a lot of policymaking activities in the past years and leadership, but the last years have been even worse, so basically the local people here are still feeling the lack of leaders and leadership to formulate stronger policies for more local government.

REFERENCES Dahal, G. (2021, February 1). Local Governance in Nepal: A Study of Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality. Journal Of Political Science, 8. doi:https://doi.org/10.3126/jps.v21i0.35261 Dharan-Submetropolitan-City. (2024). Introduction of Dharan. Retrieved from https://www.dharan.gov.np/ Gautam, B. (2021, Nov. 10). Retrieved from https://www.nepalgunjnews.com/main-news/20211156861/ public administration, public policy, and governance, 1-12. UNDP. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/serbia/good-governance Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_Dharan

LOCAL PUBLIC POLICIES MADE FROM 2074 TO 2081 BS

ऐन

विनियोजन ऐन, २०८१ तथा रातो किताब
आर्थिक ऐन, २०८१
विनियोजन ऐन, २०८०
रातो किताब, २०८०
आर्थिक ऐन, २०८०
विनियोजन विधेयक, २०७९
आर्थिक ऐन, २०७९
न्याय सम्पादन (कार्यविधि सम्बन्धी) ऐन, २०७५ प्रथम संशोधन
आर्थिक ऐन र विनियोजन ऐन (पहिलो संशोधन), २०७८
शिक्षा ऐन, २०७८
विनियोजन ऐन, २०७८
आर्थिक ऐन, २०७८
आर्थिक कार्यविधि नियमित गर्ने बनेको ऐन
संस्था दर्ता सम्बन्धमा व्यवस्था गर्न बनेको ऐन, २०७७
वातावरण तथा प्राकृतिक स्रोत संरक्षण ऐन, २०७७
विनियोजन ऐन, २०७७
आर्थिक ऐन, २०७७
धरान उपमहानगरपालिकाको कर्मचारी सेवा ऐन, २०७६
विनियोजन ऐन, २०७६
आर्थिक ऐन, २०७६
नगर विपद् जोखिम न्यूनीकरण तथा व्यवस्थापन ऐन, २०७५
न्याय सम्पादन (कार्यविधि सम्बन्धी) ऐन, २०७५
प्रशासनिक कार्यविधि, २०७५
आर्थिक ऐन, २०७५
विनियोजन ऐन, २०७५
प्रशासनिक कार्यविधि (नियमित गर्ने) ऐन (पहिलो संशोधन), २०७५
प्रशासनिक कार्यविधि (नियमित गर्ने) ऐन, २०७५
कृषि व्यवसाय प्रवर्द्धन ऐन, २०७५
सहकारी ऐन, २०७५
आर्थिक ऐन, २०७४
विनियोजन ऐन, २०७८
शिक्षा ऐन, २०७८
आर्थिक ऐन र विनियोजन ऐन (पहिलो संशोधन), २०७८
आर्थिक ऐन र विनियोजन ऐन संशोधन
न्याय सम्पादन (कार्यविधि सम्बन्धी) ऐन, २०७५ प्रथम संशोधन
न्याय सम्पादन कार्यविधि ऐन, २०७५ संशोधन
आर्थिक ऐन, २०७९
विनियोजन विधेयक, २०७९

कार्यविधि

तीनपाङ्ग्रे ई–रिक्सा सम्बन्धी कार्यविधि, २०७९
सुरक्षित आप्रवासन सम्बन्धी कार्यविधि, २०७८
धरान उपमहानगरपालिकाको सार्वजनिक सुनुवाइ कार्यविधि, २०७८
विपद् व्यवस्थापन कोष (सञ्चालन) कार्यविधि, २०७८
धरान उपमहानगरपालिका पदाधिकारीहरूको आचारसंहिता, २०७८
घरपालुवा तथा सामुदायिक कुकुर व्यवस्थापन कार्यविधि, २०७७
मेलमिलाप व्यवस्थापन कार्यविधि, २०७६
करार व्यवस्थापन कार्यविधि, २०७८
संक्षिप्त वातावरणीय अध्ययन तथा प्रारम्भिक वातावरणीय परीक्षण कार्यविधि, २०७७
खानेपानी तथा सरसफाइ उपभोक्ता समिति व्यवस्थापन कार्यविधि, २०७७
समुदायमा आधारित पुनर्स्थापना सहजकर्ता छनौट सम्बन्धी कार्यविधि, २०७६
अव्यवस्थित बसोबास तथा भूमिहीन सुकुम्बासी व्यवस्थापन समितिको कार्यविधि, २०७६
उद्योग प्रवर्द्धन समितिको कार्यविधि, २०७५
बालमैत्री स्थानीय शासन कार्यान्वयन कार्यविधि, २०७५
“घ” वर्गको निर्माण व्यवसायी इजाजतपत्र सम्बन्धी कार्यविधि, २०७५
अपाङ्गता भएका व्यक्तिको परिचयपत्र वितरण कार्यविधि, २०७५
उपभोक्ता समिति गठन, परिचालन तथा व्यवस्थापन कार्यविधि, २०७५
धरान नगर प्रहरी व्यवस्थापन कार्यविधि, २०७५
स्थानीय राजपत्र प्रकाशन कार्यविधि, २०७५
टोल विकास संस्था सञ्चालन कार्यविधि, २०७५
धरान प्राविधिक व्यवस्थापन कार्यविधि, २०७५
बैठक सञ्चालन सम्बन्धी कार्यविधि, २०७५

नियमावली

संस्था दर्ता नियमावली, २०७८
आदिवासी जनजाति विकास समिति सञ्चालन सम्बन्धी निर्देशिका, २०७५
सुकुम्बासी व्यवस्थापन नियमावली, २०७५
बहाल कर नियमावली, २०७५
नगर कार्यपालिका कार्यसम्पादन नियमावली, २०७४
नगर कार्यपालिका कार्यविभाजन नियमावली, २०७४
शिक्षा नियमावली, २०७४ (पहिलो संशोधन)
शिक्षा नियमावली, २०७४

निर्देशिका

आमसञ्चार माध्यमलाई प्रदान गरिने लोककल्याणकारी सूचना वितरणसम्बन्धी मापदण्ड, २०७९
स्वास्थ्य संस्था दर्ता, अनुमति तथा नवीकरण सम्बन्धी निर्देशिका
आदिवासी जनजाति विकास समिति सञ्चालन निर्देशिका, २०७५
बजार अनुगमन निर्देशिका, २०७५