According to the Directive, the government can declare any village development committee (VDC) a model village if it meets the criteria set out by MoLD. [break]
A VDC can be declared a model village if it is located at a historically important place; is connected by road to district headquarters which can be reached in an hour by motor vehicle and in three hours on foot, and is likely to be a success on the basis of its geography, urbanization and population.
Similarly, such a VDC should have importance in terms of tourism and be capable of generating internal resources and maintaining socio-cultural goodwill amidst various races, languages, cultures and traditions.
A joint meeting of the district development committee (DDC), the chief district officer, the chiefs of all development offices, local political leaders, representatives of non-governmental organizations and local journalists should make a recommendation to MoLD to declare a VDC a model village on the basis of the criteria set out by the ministry.
According to the Directive, MoLD will forward the recommendation to the cabinet. The ministry will guide and coordinate with the model villages and monitor them, says the Directive.
The government will provide an additional Rs 2 million as per the proposal of MoLD.
A model village must expedite the process of economic transformation by identifying local means and resources for making itself economicaly independent.
Also, a model village should place emphasis on a progam to create jobs at the local level and work to modernize agriculture.
Such a village should provide vocational training to at least 100 youths and issue soft loans for starting up businesses.
A model village must have at least one higher secondary school and a library. Such a village should also have at least one primary health care centre.
According to the Directive, a road network will be developed to connect all the wards and settlements in the model villages.
Plans for model villages will be approved by the village council and their activities will be carried out through consensus among local parties.
Acording to the Directive, at least one fair-price shop will be set up in each model village.
A model village will be removed from the list if it fails to function as per the Directive or if it is tranformed into a municipality.
Spokesperson at MoLD Dinesh Thapaliya said that the Directive will be forwarded to the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture and Health among others for their feedback.
“Once we receive feedback from the concerned ministries, we will send the Directive to the cabinet for its approval,” he added.
Related story
Ministry of Industry drafts criteria for excavating sand and ag...
-1778309205.webp)
