Kathmandu, Dec. 1 -- The Social Welfare Council (SWC)-tasked with monitoring, regulating and evaluating around 150 INGOs and nearly 58,000 domestic NGOs-has been largely without top leadership since November 18. While only two board positions remain filled, the office is overflowing with contract staff.

By law, the SWC should have 10 board members, including the vice-chairperson, in addition to ex-officio members. Currently, only Vice-Chairperson Nandalal Majhi and board member Sanjay Sah are in place and the crucial executive position of member-secretary remains vacant.

Without authority to call meetings or make decisions, these two are essentially powerless. Meanwhile, nearly five dozen contract employees, recruited at different time...