Janakpurdham. The Madhes Province government has decided to increase the basic salary of civil servants and local service employees by 10 percent as per the policy provision in the budget statement for the current fiscal year 2083/84.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers of Madhes Province held today approved the new pay scale, grade amount and maximum grade number to be effective from July 17, 2083, according to government spokesperson and Finance Minister Yubaraj Bhattarai. According to him, in the case of employees of the local service, the decision would be published in the State Gazette as per Section 44 (8) of the Local Service (Formation and Operation) Act, 2081.

Likewise, the meeting also endorsed the Work Procedure on Performance-Based Incentive Allowance, 2083 BS in order to make service delivery result-oriented, transparent and accountable.

As per the procedure, an employee can get incentive allowance up to 10 percent of the basic pay scale. Out of total 100 points, 50 points will be awarded towards Work Details Index and 50 points towards Personal and Public Service Delivery Index. Minister Bhattarai said that only those employees scoring minimum 75 marks will be entitled to the allowance.

According to him, electronic attendance has been made mandatory to get the incentive allowance. Minister Bhattarai said that a three-member ‘testing unit’ would be formed in every office for evaluation, verification and recommendation. KATHMANDU: The meeting of the Council of Ministers has endorsed the ‘Madhes Province Expenditure Criteria Directive-2083’ in order to maintain austerity, fiscal discipline and transparency in government expenditure.

Minister Bhattarai said that the directive presented by the Ministry of Finance is expected to ensure budget implementation, control expenditure and proper utilization of government resources. It is believed that after the implementation of the directive, unnecessary expenditure control and financial management would be more systematic.

The meeting also decided to form a committee to prepare standards for the purchase, operation, maintenance, improvement and maintenance of government vehicles being used in the state government and other public bodies.

The committee to be formed under the coordination of Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management will have representatives from various ministries. Minister Bhattarai said that the committee has been given the responsibility to prepare work procedure within 15 days and submit it to the Council of Ministers.

Similarly, the meeting unanimously endorsed a study report on ‘Climate Adaptation Investment Plan on Climate Resilient Value Chain for Food System Transformation in Madhes Province’ presented by the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives.

Minister Bhattarai said that the provincial government has decided to implement the conclusions and strategies of the report and make it officially public for public access.