Pre-budget discussion enters Day 3

KATHMANDU, June 27:  A discussion on principles and priorities of the new budget has kicked off at the Legislature Parliament on Monday afternoon, as part of pre-budget debate that had begun three days ago.



Forty-eight lawmakers are scheduled to present their views during the pre-budget deliberation. A total of 85 lawmakers—27 on the first day and 58 on the second day—have already aired their views on the proposal of the budget estimates presented by Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari on June 22. [break]



This is the first time that the House has held a pre-budget debate since the country was declared a republic. Such debate is largely seen as an occasion for people to have their say through their representatives on government fiscal plan and policies



Monday’s House session has started at 1:00 pm, two hours behind schedule.



On July 3, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav will present the government’s policies and programs in parliament. The government plans to table the new fiscal budget on July 14.



Addressing the House session, Unified CPN (Maoist) leader Dev Gurng said the new budget should be people-oriented and priority should be given to agriculture, irrigation, tourism and energy sectors.



He urged the government to bring in the budget by addressing the burning problems and transition period. The state should pay attention to liquidity crisis, capital flight, investment in real estate, development of solar energy as an alternative to petroleum products and big hydropower projects, he said.



Chief Whip of Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party Laxman Prasad Ghimire said the three-year planning formulated by the three major parties should be the basis of the new budget.



He called for the Nepal Rastra Bank’s role to improve the financial sector, top priority on agriculture and energy, a manifesto to bail out economy, establishment of a chemical fertilizer industry and end to politicisation in the hydropower sector.



Bishnu Prasad Rimal of CPN-UML said the budget’s main challenge was to balance economy and political instability. A three-pillar economic policy, infrastructure construction, employment, problems of labourers, social security, education and health should be the priority areas, he said.



Similarly, Ramananda Mandal of Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) asserted that the budget should target Dalit, Janajatis, Madhesi and other marginalised groups.



Brijesh Kumar Gupta of Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party drew the government’s attention towards establishment of an agriculture research laboratory, promotion of Lumbini tourism and increase in civil servants’ salary.



Nabodita Chaudhary of Rastriya Prajantra Party the new budget should provide relief to poor people.



Likewise, Janakumari Chalise of CPN (ML) said the budget should be gender-friendly and focus on creating employment opportunities.



Lila Naichai of Nepal Majdoor Kishan Party demanded that money be released to hold election of local bodies through this year’s budget. Prem Bahadur Singh of Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal said the budget should be inclusive.

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