Chaubise Rural Municipality is located in the south-eastern region of Dhankuta district. Its area is 147.6 square km and total population is 19,283. This municipality has formed by merging seven former VDC and located its office at Rajarani Bazaar (Patti Bazaar) of Dhankuta district considering center points for its eight wards. Based on the spirits of Constitution of Nepal, all services and citizen centric development activities need to be delivered through lowest structure i.e ward offices in a convenient and transparent mechanism. For this Chaubise rural municipality has initiated information technology system and its components to deliver the services in a swift, transparent and most accountable manner.
As recapitulating the initial stage, Mr. Khajindra Rai, Chairperson of Chaubese Rural Municipality, Said “There were not sufficient office infrastructure for staffs to perform day to day operational works. There was no electricity supply at ward offices, no landline and internet services, ISPs were not interested due to located in remote site. The official filing system was very poor; revenue collection, social security data were not well-managed. Only mobile phones were used for communication, which was also not reliable due to its poor network”. Hence, they were out of the e-connections with outer world and line ministries. During the time, municipality was only able to deliver simple and basic services to citizens.
Municipality planned and estimated the budget for the maintenance of the office building and rooms; procured the furniture items, electronic devices and other infrastructures. The elected representative and staffs put first priority to establish the internet services and facilities. Later on, they have managed enough furniture items, electronic devices, and internet services for all officials and elected representatives to function Chaubise Rural Municipality. The teams have established land line telephone in coordination with NTC and have started internet connectivity through ADSL. After establishing information system in the office and are regularly updating the notices, acts, laws, by-laws regularly in the website.
Municipality has now established sectorial departments in office for smooth operation and service delivery. Now each department has one desktop computer with printer. After the recruitment of IT officer, has managed computers and printers to connect in a single network LAN for file sharing and printer sharing. Sharing of resources has saved cost and improved in efficacy of working capacity of staffs.
Currently municipality has extended its internet connectivity to all ward offices through the agreement made with NTC to expand 3 MBps optical fiber to each ward offices. Currently all wards are connected and started to operate internet services. This has improved in the capacity of internet speed and communication between wards in terms of service delivery.
Municipality has planned to use software for IPT, account and revenue from the beginning of next FY 2075/076. This software is online operatives through intranet, it can be used in ward level also, and data is centrally monitored from office. VERSP-MIS system is now used at ward level; all social security data and vital event registration certificate are issued by ward offices themselves. Municipality has procured hybrid solar for office and also to all ward level offices. Through which 4 hours power back up facility which do not allow stopping any official works in case of electricity shedding.
In addition to above achievement and changes, municipalities have also introduced digital notice board for transparency and making easiness to citizens and all staffs are mandatory operating their official email for official communication.
