JUMLA, Aug 13: Division Cooperative Office in Jumla has remained without a chief since the last five months. Absence of the head at the cooperative office has impacted development activities related to cooperatives in the entire Karnali zone.

In lack of the chief, neither new cooperatives can be registered nor the old ones be dissolved.

The last person to head the division office in Jumla was Narayan Chapagain. But after his transfer to the local development ministry, the staff at the office lamented, the office has virtually become non-operational.

"It is difficult to conduct day-to-day business of the office in absence of an authoritative figure," said acting chief of the division office, Laxmi Prasad Adhikari.

According to Adhikari, absence of the chief has affected cooperatives in all the five districts of Karnali zone.

"The chief has the power to regulate cooperatives in all five districts, register new ones, and dissolve the old cooperatives. These tasks cannot be effectively carried out in absence of a chief," he said.

He added that the chief also coordinates with other government bodies and private agencies for several purposes.

Adhikari, however, stated that daily work of the office has not been much affected. All the decisions that could be taken without the chief are being taken on time and services are being provided to the public.

"Many who come for registration of new cooperatives have been returning disappointed. They come from Kalikot, Mugu and other districts. We hope we will soon get a new chief," Gopal Bahadur Bhandari, an employee at the division office said.

"Senior officials do not like to come here due to lack of facilities and perks," another employee said.

 
• division cooperative office
 
• jumla
 
• without a chief