KATHMANDU, April 3: National Sports Council (NSC) Member Secretary Tanka Lal Ghising has voiced concern over the inclusion of programs in the budget without proposals from the body concerned, the NSC.
Speaking at an interaction program with journalists on Tuesday, Member Secretary Ghising highlighted the issue of programs being included in the budget without proper planning and proposals. "Plans, ideas, and proposals not endorsed by the NSC are frequently incorporated, which is a flawed practice," he remarked. "This trend persists not only in sports but also in many other sectors."
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Ghising emphasized that the budget allocation for sports remains insufficient, and often, programs lacking proper planning are included. He said that the NSC has limited control over the expenditure of such budget allocations.
In response to media suggestions, Ghising stressed the importance of formulating programs that can be effectively implemented. He underscored the need to prioritize the Tenth National Sports and develop strategies to prevent athletes from fleeing. Additionally, he proposed leveraging technology for maintenance activities. Ghising expressed optimism that the upcoming budget will allocate grants based on programs and plans submitted by sports associations. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing medals and sports of national significance in budget allocations.
"We have streamlined the number of registered sports associations from 209 to 61. Furthermore, we will prioritize allocating budget resources for medals and sports of national significance. Our aim is to address the issue of insufficient budget allocation for sports and ensure effective utilization," he stated.
"It is a matter of fact that sports receive a mere 0.12 percent of Nepal's total budget, with a significant portion allocated for salaries and allowances of employees. Additionally, Member Secretary Ghising emphasized that the forthcoming National Sports event to be held in Karnali Province holds paramount importance for the NSC, and that efforts were underway to ensure its successful execution in the province.
He highlighted a concerning trend where there's a preference for constructing large stadiums over essential infrastructure like playing fields or covered halls. He stressed the importance of halting this trend and urged the local authorities to prioritize the establishment of training centers instead of stadiums in every municipality or ward. Ghisingh expressed the belief that the forthcoming budget plans will incorporate measures to curb the exodus of players.
