Public Policy and Local Development: An Analysis With Nepalese Prespective
Public Policy and Local Development: An Analysis With Nepalese Prespective
Abstract
The intricate and significant relationship between local development and public policy
is fundamental to understanding their interplay. Local development involves enhancing
economic, social, and environmental conditions within specific geographic areas like
cities, towns, or regions. In contrast, public policy encompasses the decisions, actions,
and guidelines formulated by governments to address societal issues and achieve
specific goals. Public policies essentially provide the framework and boundaries
within which local development occurs. When well-crafted and effectively executed,
public policies have the potential to catalyze positive outcomes in local development,
fostering economic growth, improving quality of life, and enhancing overall community
well-being. However, in Nepal, the execution of unsystematic policies for national
development, along with local governments struggling to define their priorities and
neglecting sustainable development based on local resources and job creation, presents
a stark contrast to the ideal of local development as the foundation of democracy,
reflecting the challenges and obstacles from the central to local government levels.
Nepal should focus on sustainable development through the development policies for
a self-reliant economy. This article tries to analyze the problems of public policies and
local development.
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Introducation
276 municipal councils, and 460 village councils. This new system replaced the
previous division into 14 Administrative Zones, which were further grouped into five
Development Regions.
The foundation of every state rest on its potential for socio-economic development.
The Local Government Operation Act (LGOA) of Nepal was enacted in 2017 to
provide guidelines for local development. It is imperative to note that the absence
of sound public policy hampers a country's development. Public policy should align
with the principles of socio-economic development, equality, liberty, and self-reliance
(Sapru, 2017, p.7).
In the Nepalese context, local governments possess legal authority and autonomy
for policymaking and development. However, questions arise about the disconnect
between local policies and sustainable development. The interplay between good
governance, public policy, and sustainable development is evident, emphasizing the
role of democracy, civil society, government institutions, and conviction in fostering
these crucial aspects of society. According to Ghimire (2023) in Nepal, the negative
impact of inadequate design during policy formulation, insufficient coordination
between complementary policies, and imprudent allocation of resources has been
evident. The overlapping responsibilities of political leaders and civil servants play
a significant role, with ministers involved in micromanagement and bureaucrats
focusing on policy management. Additionally, the engagement of development
partners remains crucial, as long as their preferred policies receive generous support.
Attitudinal issues like rent-seeking and corruption have also compromised certain
guidelines. The lack of strong commitment from leaders has undermined various
implementation strategies. An autonomous economy, alternatively termed economic
self-sufficiency or autarky, denotes a scenario in which a nation endeavors to fulfill
its requirements with minimal dependence on external channels. The objective is
to diminish reliance on imports and international aid, thereby cultivating economic
autonomy and robustness. The implementation of this concept can take diverse forms,
and economists and policymakers often engage in discussions about its practicability
and appeal.
Methods
This paper employs an interpretive and qualitative approach, drawing from a
variety of secondary data sources including government reports, academic publications,
research papers, and international organization reports. The data analysis provides
insights into the current issues surrounding public policy and local development
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Objectives
The major objective of this article is to clarify the role of the institutions that
contribute to raising the living standard in Nepal. In the same way, it is necessary to
evaluate the problems of development policy that Nepal is currently experiencing to
shed light on those issues. The specific objectives are as follows:
1. to elucidate the pivotal role of well-crafted public policies in shaping local
development within geographic regions like cities, towns, or regions,
emphasizing their potential to foster economic growth, enhance the quality of
life, and improve overall community well-being.
2. to critically examine the challenges and obstacles faced in Nepal, where the
execution of unsystematic national development policies and local governments'
struggles to define priorities starkly contrast with the ideal of local development
as a cornerstone of democracy, thereby highlighting the need to align public
policies with the principles of socio-economic development, equality, liberty,
and self-reliance within Nepal's unique governance structure.
Review of Literature
Conclusion
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can facilitate policies that empower local capacity through training, knowledge
sharing, and technical support. This strengthens local institutions and human resources,
ultimately driving sustainable development. Addressing these challenges requires a
comprehensive approach that fosters collaboration among government bodies, civil
society organizations, private sector entities, and international partners. It also entails
the development and implementation of evidence-based policies that are finely tuned
to Nepal's unique context and challenges.
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