Question: State the provisions relating to the formation of the District Coordination Committee. Present its constitutional responsibilities.
Formation of the District Coordination Committee
The Constitution of Nepal provides for a District Assembly in each district. The District Assembly is responsible for coordinating among the municipalities and rural municipalities within the district. The District Assembly comprises the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of Rural Municipal Executives, as well as the mayors and deputy mayors of Municipal Executives within the district.
The District Coordination Committee (DCC) is formed to carry out the functions that are assigned to the District Assembly. The District Assembly is the body responsible for forming the District Coordination Committee. Members of the District Coordination Committee serve a term of five years from the date of their election.
As outlined in the Constitution, the District Assembly elects the following office bearers and members to form the District Coordination Committee:
a) One Head, elected by the District Assembly;
b) One Deputy Head, elected by the District Assembly;
c) At least three women members, elected by the District Assembly;
d) At least one Dalit or minority member elected by the District Assembly; and
e) Other members as required, provided that the total number of members, including the Head and Deputy Head, does not exceed nine.
Constitutional Responsibilities of the District Coordination Committee
The District Coordination Committee is created to perform the functions that are assigned to the District Assembly. Therefore, the major constitutional responsibilities of the District Coordination Committee include:
Coordinating among municipalities and municipalities within the district. This includes monitoring development and construction activities to ensure balance and coordination in development efforts.
Coordinating among the federal and provincial government offices operating within the district and the rural municipalities and municipalities.
Performing functions that are specified by provincial law.
The District Coordination Committee is a mechanism designed to carry out the functions of the District Assembly. It plays a role in facilitating coordination among local governments within a district. The District Coordination Committee serves as an institutional platform for cooperation and coordination among local governments. It also supports coordination between governments and provincial and federal government agencies.
Effective coordination at the district level can help avoid duplication of development efforts. It promotes development and supports intergovernmental cooperation. It strengthens federalism. Therefore, improving the capacity and effectiveness of District Coordination Committees can contribute to achieving the goals of cooperative federalism. It also supports multi-level governance as envisioned by the Constitution.