Kathmandu, March 23 -- Around a decade after the new constitution federated the country, the local level is still short of over a third of the needed civil servants, who are still largely mobilised from Kathmandu.

Only 43,807 positions among the 67,719 sanctioned posts have been filled, leaving 36 percent vacancies. The situation is no better at the provincial level. A study by the Federalism and Localisation Centre led by Khimlal Devkota, a former member of the National Assembly, shows that only 13,821 positions of the 22,236 are vacant in the seven provinces.

"Out of the 88 local units in Sudurpaschim Province, 42 are without chief administrative officers," according to the report. Devkota says the situation is no different in the loc...