KATHMANDU, June 11: Lawmakers continued to air their views on the budget presented by the government for the upcoming fiscal year in the House of Representatives.
In today's session of the lower house, Nepali Congress MP Pradeep Poudel asked Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahatt how he would incorporate the matters raised in parliament in the budget.
"The citizens are facing numerous problems ranging from monkey menace to climate change issues. But they feel the presence of the State only while paying taxes. If the situation continues, how will the goals of government programs be met?" he questioned.
As he claimed, the budget has failed to connect labor with education in a practical way.
Padam Giri was of the view that it seems health is not a priority for the budget. "The decision to cut the health sector’s budget by 20 percent is concerning," he said, underlining the need for promoting the health and education sectors and ensuring the people's access to the services.
Ganga Karki commented that the budget was capable of addressing the country's existing situation and its principles, priorities and policies were appropriate.
"Agriculture, tourism, education, health and employment areas are areas of emphasis in the budget. However, the programs are inadequate to address the people's needs," the lawmaker said, urging the government to declare Dolakha district a touristic area.
Lawmaker Gita Basnet accused the government of allocating a budget on the basis of power and access and of not realizing the needs of the grassroot people.
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"Bardiya was hit by a major flood in 2071 BS and since then, it has been awaiting relief. This time too, the government does not feel its duty to address the needs of survivors in the budget. The affected are sad by this approach. Why does the government not view Bardiya differently," she said.
Tara Lama Tamang said the budget did not address the need to analyze the measures to revive the economy. "This budget is not pro-peasants and pro-workers and is not oriented toward socialism."
Santosh Chalise stressed the need for addressing the farmers' struggle for chemical fertilizers every year.
Roshan Karki termed the budget as ambitious despite having some positive programs. It could not bring programs for the upliftment of women and backward communities, he criticized.
Similarly, Mahendra Bahadur Shahi claimed that there was no coherence between the government's policies, programs and budget. The budget is not balanced. "There is no coherence between the government's policies, programs and budget. It seems the budget has been distributed unevenly under the influence of ministers and those in power. This trend should be stopped," he said.
Likewise, Shishir Khanal said the budget has failed to bring effective programs to improve the economy.
Meanwhile, Prakash Adhikari stressed the need for the government to resolve the issues including that of citizenship bill.
Similarly, Prabhu Sah stressed the need for not increasing the tax ceiling that would affect farmers stating that the main challenge of the country is economic scarcity.
Lawmaker Gagan Kumar Thapa drew the attention of the government to the effective implementation of the budget.
Taking part in the general deliberations on the Annual Estimate of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2023/24 in the meeting of the House of Representatives today, he called for making the programs incorporated in the budget result-oriented and for their effective implementation.
Lawmaker Thapa expressed the belief that the goals of the budget can be achieved if it is implemented with the realization that the budget is big in size.
"The budget size is big. It is not realistic. The results should be achieved through its effective implementation keeping this fact in mind," he suggested and pointed out the need for giving attention to making the objectives of the budget result-oriented so as to turn the despondency seen among the people into hope by removing the challenges in the economy.
Recalling that the finance minister while concluding his budget statement in the joint session of both houses of parliament on May 29 had projected a 6 per cent economic growth rate and the CPI to be limited to 6.5 per cent, Thapa stressed investment expansion, employment growth, economic reform and meeting the revenue goals by maintaining fiscal discipline through the effective implementation of the budget.
He viewed that the budget failed to address the problems facing small traders. "Even the industries and factories that are in operation for a long time are in trouble. They are discouraged. How much marks they give this budget in their evaluation depends on how effectively the budget is implemented," lawmaker Thapa asserted.
Lawmaker Dinesh Kumar Yadav argued that the government has brought the budget for the next fiscal year which is capable of addressing the present economic crisis facing the country.
"The country is currently in an economic downturn. I support this budget which treats each sector equally with the aim of tiding over this economic crisis," he said. Yadav however criticized the budget, saying it has failed to 'touch' Madhes, the region which has a vital role in contributing to boosting the national economy.
Lawmaker Rupa BK expressed the belief the budget would address the slowdown the country's economy is experiencing at present.
Kantika Sejuwal urged the government to allocate an adequate budget for the development of Karnali Province.
(RSS)
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