Koshi Province unveils its annual Policy and Program

The Koshi Province government on Wednesday rolled out its annual policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24.

Chief of the Province, Parshuram Khapung, presented the annual policy and program by Article 184(2) of the Constitution of Nepal and Rule 35(1) of the Koshi Province Assembly Regulations-2074 BS.

The provincial government aims to achieve the vision of a prosperous Koshi Province with social justice, making necessary arrangements to address people's aspirations for peace, prosperity, and development and making operational and policy arrangements effective to deliver the designated tasks and to achieve the targets.

The newly unveiled policy and program also envisage devising a mechanism that would enhance the effectiveness of the administrative and development management, further strengthening the Province Civil Personnel Records to keep a record of the city employees in the Province, organizing the archival of the decisions of the cabinet and making council of ministers technology-friendly.

Training programs would be organized for those youths lagging socially and culturally for they to build their capacity to contest in the public service exams.

The provincial government has also prioritized partnerships with local levels that play a notable role in production and job creation.

Furthermore, efforts would be coordinated to increase revenue collection at the local levels and to enhance their mobilization capacity. The establishment of a well-equipped lab for quality control of the construction materials for quality physical infrastructures is also on the government's agenda.

The 125-point policy and programs were read out by Province Chief Khapung at 2:00 am. The second meeting of the Province Assembly unanimously extended gratitude to Khapung for presenting the provincial government's policy and program.

The provincial government plans to launch a special program for the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases, mental health concerns, and epidemic and insect-borne diseases among others.

Moreover, the "Swatha Nagarik" (Healthy Citizen) campaign would be launched for integrated management of incommunicable diseases. The provincial government has also prioritized the promotion of the agriculture sector. Thus, the production of exportable products such as tea, coffee, ginger, cardamom, and betel nuts, safe storage, post-harvest and programs based on value-chain would be implemented to promote export.

The provincial government also aims to general electricity under the People's Hydro Power program from the upcoming fiscal year. The investment made by the people of the Province and the provincial government in the Ghunsa hydropower with a capacity of 77.5 megawatts and Simbuwa Khola Hydropower Project of 70.3 megawatts would be ensured.

Watershed areas, important rivers, lakes, and ponds would be preserved effectively through integrated watershed management based on the river basin system for the conservation of the Chure Area, watershed, and buffer zones in the Province.

Furthermore, various destinations in the Province with prospects of tourism would be developed and promoted as safe, enchanting, attractive, and quality tourism spots to boost domestic as well as external tourism.

The Province Assembly is next meeting at 11:00 am on June 15.

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