MYAGDI: The economic social risk management information system brought in use by Beni Municipality, has become effective.

The information system has turned effective for selecting development plans, implementing programmes in targeted communities, identifying beneficiaries for services, facilities, grants and assistance, domestic revenue enhancement, and disaster management.

Mayor Surat KC shared that the use of technology has helped improve transparency in the distribution of grants and assistance by ending the practice of providing services based on ‘party’ and ‘caste’.

“This information system has helped implement programmes by identifying targeted communities and their needs. We have ended the situation where one person receives extra facilities based on access, relationships, influence, or pressure”, the mayor noted. Beni municipality had introduced a comprehensive information system covering all households last year, for the first time in Nepal.

The software-based information system contains 92 types of information, including photographs of the house, family members, their employment, economic, educational, and health status while keeping 10 types of personal information confidential.

The system is accessible to the mayor, deputy mayor, chief administrative officer, ward chairs, secretaries, and staff of relevant branches with authority to update the details.

Based on this system, an electronic house numbering system with QR codes has already been implemented in 7,440 houses.

This will allow the identification of the house’s location from the name and contact number of the house owner. KC said the system has assisted in increasing internal revenue through house rent tax.

Based on the information system, 340 disadvantaged women identified were provided seed money Rs 27,000 each to engage in income-generating activities through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Additionally, 100 more individuals received seed money grants of Rs 40,000 to run businesses.

Deputy Mayor Jyoti Lamichhane shared that houses were built for 13 homeless families of the municipality last year and this year, the budget has been allocated to provide grants of Rs 300,000 each to build houses for an additional 13 families.

“Using the information system to the maximum has made it easier to reach the target communities with development projects and programmes”, she said.