The Performance of Local Governments to Fight against the COVID-19: The Case of Makwanpur and Chitwan Districts of Bagmati Province of Nepal

Abstract

The Novel Corona Virus (SARS-CoV-19) outbreak devastates the world between 2019-2020 affects all sectors including the governance and service delivery. Nepal federalism with three tiers of government established in 2016, among which Rural Municipality or Local Government-LG played an effective role in the COVID management because of local elected bodies. This study highlighting the role of LG during COVID applying a mixed method approach with exoplanetary sequential methods with data from epidemiology. A vital interview has taken for verification of the fact. The data highlights that the safety campaign, relief distribution helped people in the lockdown period supported by LG. People from wage labour, old age people, with disabilities, returnees from India and third-country were more prioritized, some 1-3 % outsider benefited through relief distribution. Municipalities and district have managed quarantine, isolation set up and encouragement for the PCR testing, logistic supports to the migrants help to manage people on time. The study concluded as the LG have played a magnificent role in the COVID management and people have realized the presence of government in the grass root levels.