Nepal PM Balen’s Office Appoints 27 Staff Members

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah ‘Balen’ has appointed 27 staff members to his personal secretariat.

This information was revealed in a written response to Nepali Congress MP Sita Thapalia ‘Urmila’, who had inquired about the number of staff members appointed to the Prime Minister’s secretariat and their service facilities.

According to the response, the Prime Minister’s personal secretariat has a total of 48 staff members, with 27 currently appointed.

Two advisors, equivalent to the rank of a government minister, and two advisors, equivalent to the rank of a state minister, have been appointed to the Prime Minister’s advisory team.

In addition, one unpaid health advisor has also been appointed, as stated in the response.

Staff Appointments and Facilities

The response also mentions that staff members have been appointed in accordance with the Prime Minister’s Advisor and Secretariat Management Procedure, 2074.

According to the procedure, ministers of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, and Environment can appoint up to five advisors, including one paid advisor.

Ministers of other ministries can appoint up to three advisors, including one paid advisor.

The response also mentions that the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister, and State Minister’s personal secretariat has a staff strength of 9 members.

The Deputy Prime Minister is entitled to a chief personal secretary equivalent to a first-class gazetted officer of the government, while the Minister and State Minister are entitled to a chief personal secretary equivalent to a second-class gazetted officer.

Other ministers are entitled to a personal secretary equivalent to a third-class gazetted officer, a coordination, implementation, and monitoring officer, a communication and public relations assistant, an assistant-level employee, and two drivers and office assistants.

These staff members are entitled to service facilities as per the relevant laws of the government.