The upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2023/24 is a topic of great importance and concern for the people of Nepal. With the country facing numerous challenges, it is imperative that the government takes a human-centered approach to development and austerity measures in the new budget, as suggested by several lawmakers in both the National Assembly and the House of Representatives (HoR). The discussions among members of the federal parliament regarding the policies and priorities of the upcoming budget have brought to light the urgent need for financial reforms in Nepal. Lawmakers have suggested reducing wasteful expenditure and reviewing unnecessary structures in the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24.
Echoing what several lawmakers have emphasized, Dr CK Raut of Janamat Party argued that the government must focus on the need to prioritize human-centered development in the upcoming budget. He has rightly pointed out that the government has been spending in unnecessary areas rather than focusing on the needs of the people. The wrong model of development has been practiced for a long time, with a misguided emphasis on big buildings, airports, view towers, and roads. The reality is that the government has been taking loans to build large international airports that have no air traffic while it struggles to provide salaries and pension to government employees. This situation is unacceptable, and the government needs to refocus its priorities towards the needs of the people.
Low capital expenditure, financial sector vulnerabilities and p...
As a newspaper, we believe that Dr Raut's call for a human-centered budget is a welcome one. It is high time that the government starts prioritizing the basic needs of the people, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. The government's focus should be on building a sustainable and equitable society where everyone has access to the basic necessities of life. The accusation made by Dr Raut that the government has been building big view towers while failing to provide healthcare to citizens should be an eye opener. This highlights the misplaced priorities of the government, which needs to be corrected. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that citizens have access to healthcare and other basic needs, rather than building grandiose structures that serve no immediate purpose. Dr Raut's call for the government not to build a 4-lane road that does not have 100 vehicles per hour is also a valid point. The government needs to prioritize its spending on infrastructure development that serves the immediate needs of the people. It is important to build roads that are essential for connecting people to essential services and facilities, rather than investing in unnecessary projects.
As the government is currently working to unveil a new budget for the FY 2023/24, it is crucial for the government to review its wasteful expenditure and unnecessary structures, as pointed out by several lawmakers in parliament. Reducing wasteful expenditure and reviewing unnecessary structures in the upcoming budget must be a top priority for the government. The government must be transparent about the plans that will not be funded and provide clear reasons for this decision. Corruption is a significant issue that must be addressed, and steps must be taken to combat it. The government must also ensure that the budget is not concentrated solely in the constituencies of big and influential leaders. The suggestions made by MPs regarding the upcoming budget are commendable, and the government must implement them. As ordinary people are hopeful that the upcoming budget will address the ongoing economic problems, the government should not disappoint them. The economy is likely to face a big downturn that could take years to recover from if prudent measures are not implemented through the financial plan.
