Introduction
Basic Introduction to Chaudandigadhi Municipality's Status Description
1.1 Background
After the sacrificial long struggle of the Nepali people, a federal democratic republican state system has been established in Nepal. As this system, which has been successfully practiced in various countries around the world, is new to Nepal, it will certainly take some time to get accustomed to it. The strong aspect of the federal governance system is people-centered governance. Under Nepal's federal system, the state structure has been divided into three levels: federal (central government), provincial government in the middle, and local government at the lower level. Nepal's Constitution has established local levels as local autonomous governments. Schedule 8, Serial No. 6 of the Constitution mentions that the local government has complete authority regarding local statistics and record collection, while Section 11 (2)(c) of the Local Government Operation Act, 2074 further elaborates on the aforementioned subject.
Therefore, exercising the authority provided by the Constitution of Nepal and the Local Government Operation Act, 2074, this report has been prepared with the belief that this status description, which will serve as the main source of local information for planning development at the local level, policy formulation, and information according to the Village/Municipality Status Description Preparation Guidelines, 2078 prepared by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, will help the municipality move in the appropriate direction of development and prosperity.
1.2 Objectives
The main objective of preparing the profile is to systematically document information about the municipality's overall status and to update such data or information and make it available to stakeholders when needed. The other specific objectives of the profile are as follows:
To prepare records of information and data on the municipality's overall physical infrastructure, economic aspects, social aspects, natural resources, and disaster management-related aspects.
To prepare records of information and data on service delivery and institutional mechanisms.
To analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, challenges, and possibilities.
To prepare various thematic base maps.
To interpret and analyze overall demographic, economic, social, physical, natural, historical, religious, and cultural data.
To classify the obtained information and present it in various sections in a well-organized and simple manner that the general public can understand.
To prepare a comprehensive statistical base related to all the above-mentioned topics.
1.3 Legal and Policy Framework
As mentioned in the background, the following are the bases for preparing the municipality's status description:
(a) Legal Basis
The Local Government Operation Act, 2074, enacted to interpret Schedules 8 and 9 of the Constitution of Nepal, has provided the authority and responsibility to prepare and update local statistics records to the local level itself, which has formed the basis for the municipality to prepare the profile.
(b) Policy Basis
Under policy basis, since there is a mandatory requirement for fundamental data necessary to implement the overall plans and policies prepared by the Government of Nepal, provincial policies, and local level policies prepared based on these policies, and since there is also a policy arrangement for information management, this status description has been prepared on that basis as there is a policy need to prepare the municipality's comprehensive information.
(c) Local Needs
Objective information is needed to operate local government and identify local needs. After identifying local needs, development policies, plans, and programs can be determined. Therefore, since a clear collection of necessary information and data is required to operate local government while advancing the overall development process, this is another important basis for preparing the status description.
In addition to these, objective information is also needed to implement international treaties and agreements that Nepal has signed as a party nation. As fact-based information is required to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, mitigate climate change impacts, ensure human rights, maintain environmental balance and achieve sustainable development, this description has been prepared based on these needs.
1.4 Preparation Stages
The methods used in preparing this municipality's profile are as follows:
This includes data available from the municipality's various thematic branches, thematic offices, and various organizations.
Data was collected using direct interview methods with all ward chairpersons and other office bearers.
Results from the National Census, 2078 and various other surveys have been included.
In the analysis of data in this study report, descriptive and comparative analysis has been done using various tables, diagrams, and maps.
The work of preparing the profile has been done using primary and secondary information collection methods. Data such as land use, roads and their quality, and environmental problems, Geographic Information System data (GIS Data), topographic maps, aerial maps, survey maps were collected using field inspection and interview methods. Along with this, information about the main problems and development possibilities of the municipality has been obtained by discussing and interviewing officials of various government and non-government bodies located in the municipality, intellectuals, and available distinguished personalities. The overall data of the municipality such as: physical, environmental, social, economic, financial and institutional data have been collected from the records of the municipality office and government and non-government offices located in the municipality, and some data have been collected by studying reports and books published by relevant departments and other bodies.
1.4.1 Profile Format, Tools and Procedure Preparation
In the first phase of this preparation, the following activities were conducted:
A decision was made by the executive meeting to initiate the preparation of the status description work in such a way that it reflects the geographical situation, population, social, economic, natural, physical, environmental and institutional status of Chaudandigadhi Municipality area and reveals geographically and socially segmented descriptions.
According to the standard format of the status description, the questionnaire was finalized with the involvement of experts for institutional surveys and participatory inventory surveys, including the results of the National Census, 2078 and various other surveys.
1.4.2 Profile Preparation Workshop
For the preparation of the status description, Chaudandigadhi Municipality conducted a one-day status description preparation workshop seminar with the participation of the municipality chief, deputy chief, executive members, chief administrative officer, ward secretaries, thematic branch/sub-branch and unit heads, local level knowledgeable experts or local experts selected by the municipality, to prepare an action plan through discussions to establish shared understanding, comprehension and ownership about the standard format of the status description, source and collection of data, and analysis preparation method among executive officials, employees and stakeholders, and to determine the responsibility and action plan for preparing the status description.
1.4.3 Data Collection
For the preparation of the status description here, two types of data were collected from institutional descriptions and details obtained from the National Census 2078, Agricultural Census, various surveys, Human Development Report, etc. Under institutional description collection, the work of collecting descriptions was done through questionnaires with the support and coordination of every ward office and various branches of the executive. Thus, in the context of collecting institutional descriptions, GIS Coordinates were taken to organize the source map and GIS Mapping.
1.4.4 Data Processing, Analysis and Resource Mapping, Preparation
For organizing and analyzing the obtained data, computer software was designed and developed and tables were prepared as required, and MS Excel was also used for further analysis, while all types of obtained data were analyzed using MS Excel. For source map preparation as well, both methods were used, such as creating a GIS-based source map using software based on the GIS Database, and also using the method of mapping through Google Map by placing GIS Coordinates in the software developed for data management.
1.4.5 Draft Profile Preparation
Organizing the reports obtained from data processing and analysis and source map preparation, and following the format as instructed by the Status Description Preparation Guidelines, 2078, the draft report of the status description was prepared by experts and submitted to the municipality within a specified time period.
1.4.6 Feedback Collection
After the first draft of the municipality's status description was prepared in the prescribed format, a one-day validation workshop was organized in the executive to discuss the draft of the status description. The following tasks were carried out in the validation workshop: collecting suggestions for improvement to ensure the accuracy and factuality of the information and descriptions presented, exchanging suggestions to include subject areas or aspects that need to be revised that the draft of the status description could not cover, confirming the interrelationship and comparative aspects of the data, information and descriptions presented in the status description, and expressing commitment to use these descriptions in plan translation, development construction, service delivery, performance and result monitoring after the publication of the status description.
1.4.7 Final Report Preparation of the Municipality's Status Description
The status description was finalized by incorporating the suggestions received from the workshop and re-consulting with relevant stakeholders as needed about the topics that need to be revised in the draft report and the suggestions presented from the workshop, and also paying attention to the suggestions of experts to ensure the standard and quality of the status description.
1.5 Scope of the Status Description
The source and base year of the data used in preparing the municipality profile have been disclosed as determined by the National Planning Commission and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. This status description has been prepared based on data provided by the municipality's thematic branches, government and non-government offices, other organizations, and data available from various ministries, departments and other sources. According to the concept of the profile, this provides realistic information about all aspects of Chaudandigadhi Municipality in a simple and clear manner. Efforts have been made to make the study as objective as possible. However, due to limitations in resources, means and information management, all the expected information could not be obtained. Nevertheless, the necessary data has been included based on the objectives set in the study.