Copies of the code of conduct and austerity measures were distributed to ministers seeking their feedback in this regard at a cabinet meeting held in Singha Durbar on Monday evening.[break]
The government is likely to endorse the code of conduct and austerity measures incorporating feedback from the ministers at a cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Emerging from the cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayankaji Shrestha, who is also the government spokesperson, said the code of conduct would be implemented once it is endorsed after holding discussion.
According to highly-placed sources at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (PMO), the ministers are required to be economical and avoid expensive foreign trips as per the new code of conduct.
The ministers are required to make public their private property while in office and after completing their tenure, according to the new code of conduct.
Similarly, the ministers are required to pay attention to ministerial works rather than party’s works. Ministers should not give priority to participating in seminars and workshops, the code of conduct states.
They are required to treat service seekers in a polite and humble manner.
The code of conduct also suggests ministers not to exert pressure on government employees, not to use expensive vehicles, to maintain discipline and working atmosphere in the ministries concerned.
According to the new austerity measures, the government will reduce the ministers’ expenditures for various facilities including electricity, home rent, and vehicle fuel.
Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting on Monday appointed Dr Shree Ram Paudel as the economic advisor to the government.
The meeting also decided to form five committees--Political Committee, Administrative Committee, Social Committee, Economic and Infrastructure Committee and Ordinance Committee-- in the ministries to monitor the implementation of the relief programs recently unveiled by the government and to make the performances of the ministries more effective.
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