Economic social risk management information system effective

Myagdi, Jan 9: The economic social risk management information system brought in use by Beni Municipality, has become effective.

The information system has turned effective for selecting development plans, implementing programmes in targeted communities, identifying beneficiaries for services, facilities, grants and assistance, domestic revenue enhancement, and disaster management.

Mayor Surat KC shared that the use of technology has helped improve transparency in the distribution of grants and assistance by ending the practice of providing services based on ‘party’ and ‘caste’.

“This information system has helped implement programmes by identifying targeted communities and their needs. We have ended the situation where one person receives extra facilities based on access, relationships, influence, or pressure”, the mayor noted. Beni municipality had introduced a comprehensive information system covering all households last year, for the first time in Nepal.

The software-based information system contains 92 types of information, including photographs of the house, family members, their employment, economic, educational, and health status while keeping 10 types of personal information confidential.

The system is accessible to the mayor, deputy mayor, chief administrative officer, ward chairs, secretaries, and staff of relevant branches with authority to update the details.

Based on this system, an electronic house numbering system with QR codes has already been implemented in 7,440 houses.

This will allow the identification of the house’s location from the name and contact number of the house owner.

KC said the system has assisted in increasing internal revenue through house rent tax.

Based on the information system, 340 disadvantaged women identified were provided seed money Rs 27,000 each to engage in income-generating activities through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Additionally, 100 more individuals received seed money grants of Rs 40,000 to run businesses.

Deputy Mayor Jyoti Lamichhane shared that houses were built for 13 homeless families of the municipality last year and this year, the budget has been allocated to provide grants of Rs 300,000 each to build houses for an additional 13 families.

“Using the information system to the maximum has made it easier to reach the target communities with development projects and programmes”, she said.

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Gaindakot festival from today

Nawalpur (Nawalparasi), Jan 9: The fourth edition of Gaindakot Festival and Trade Fair is kicking off from today.

President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal will inaugurate the festival this afternoon.

The festival and trade fair will run on the Narayani River bank in Gaindakot-2 of Nawalpur up to January 24.

Senior vice-president of Nawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry and festival main committee coordinator Chhabi Kandel informed that all preparations of the festival have been completed.

He shared that construction of stalls, stage, children’s park, agricultural complex, security arrangements, and other works have been completed.

Kandel informed that water fairies, fish tunnel, and opera house have been constructed as special attractions in this edition of the festival.

Chamber’s senior member and festival publicity committee coordinator Shalikram Sapkota said wider publicity has been undertaken to make the festival a grand success.

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