Kathmandu. While participating in the discussion on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year 2080/081 presented by the government to the Parliament yesterday, the MPs have given various suggestions to the government through the Parliament.
As the country’s economy is not in a normal state but is going through a serious crisis, the parliamentarians have suggested that policies and programs and budgets for the next fiscal year should be introduced to address that problem. Similarly, when the economic indicators are going through contraction, the resources of the government are also weak, so their emphasis is on the actual size of the budget. Parliamentarians demand that the budget should include more multifaceted areas of human development rather than infrastructure targeted programs. The government has been suggested to focus on economic reforms through the mobilization of internal resources such as agriculture, tourism, and hydropower.
National Independent Party Chairman and Member of Parliament Ravi Lamichhane opined that the principles and priorities of the appropriation bill presented by the government in the parliament for the upcoming financial year 2080/081 are a continuation of the failed policy of the past. He says that the problems seen in the economy cannot be solved with the old style impractical principles and priorities.
“We believe that by taking these documents from the past few years and modifying some sentences and words, the principles and priorities of the budget have been ritualistically arrived at. Now the economy is in an extraordinary situation. How will it be possible to save the economy that has reached an extraordinary situation and give relief to the common people with the same ritualistic plan as usual?”, Lamichhane said.
MP Raghuji Pant said that the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year 2080/081 are abstract and contradictory. Pant held the opinion that the government’s policies and programs and budget should be focused on reducing dependence on imports through the expansion of agriculture and industrial sectors. “Government should take a policy to give cash subsidy to farmers and promote Raithanebali and organic farming”, he said. Likewise, MP Pant also says that the government should not increase the financial burden by providing unnecessary resources to various projects.
Speaking at today’s meeting of Parliament, MP Lekhnath Dahal said that although everyone is aware of the current problems in the economy, there is very little debate about how to solve them. “We all understand the current problem. But it is necessary to discuss what are the solutions”, MP Dahal said, “Projects to build capital, increase production and employment should be prioritized in the budget.”
MP Dr Swarnim Wagle said that there is no sense of urgency to immediately improve the economy in terms of budget principles and priorities. “While the entire policy, plan, budget formulation and government process are unreliable, we have not found the scope to correct, improve and improve the economy with this status quo essay. We are not finding that sense of urgency”, he said while giving his views on the principles and priorities of the budget.
MP Arju Rana said that the issue of transparency should be taken seriously. Similarly, he held the view that Nepal should prepare a mechanism for ‘climate funding’, start-up businesses should be promoted, and digital economy should be promoted.
MP Sunita Baral said that although the principles and priorities of the budget cover many things, it is necessary to make them more clear. He says that since the theory talks about abstract things, it should be specified. MP Baral said that public administration should be restructured and expenses should be reduced. He also suggested that capital expenditure should be increased and agriculture sector should be prioritized in the budget. He says that the use of organic fertilizers should be promoted instead of chemical fertilizers. Similarly, he has also questioned in the Parliament how the Land Commission is working.
MP Sanjay Kumar Gautam said that the budget that is about to come in the current situation should be able to remove the frustration of the people. “Why did this situation happen? How did it come? Is the current government and the current economy only to blame? We said we want political change. But have we really changed? We all need to see our faces once”, he said. He also said that good governance should be the first step to solve the problems of the economy. He also questioned the effectiveness of federalism. He also said that restructuring is necessary at the provincial level.
MP Bijula Rayamazhi said that sufficient budget should be allocated for the production, storage and marketing of agricultural products. He said that when farmers are not getting a fair price for their products, the issue of using pesticide-laden food and agricultural products imported from abroad should be taken seriously.
Parliamentarian Ramkrishna Yadav says that the government should make short-term, medium-term and long-term plans to solve the problems seen in the economy, as there is great hope and confidence in the people. He also suggested that the government should conduct one house and one job as a campaign. He said that facilities such as fertilizers, seeds, irrigation should be provided keeping agricultural production at the center.
MP Rishikesh Pokharel was of the opinion that the principles and priorities of the appropriation bill for the next financial year have come in a traditionalist manner. He said that Nepal should recognize its originality and needs and prioritize different sectors accordingly. He also raised the question of effective implementation of the government’s plans and programs. “No matter how good the plan is, who is responsible and accountable for its effective implementation?” We had set a target of eight percent economic growth in the current financial year as well. But only two percent was seen. Who is responsible for that?”, he asked.
MP Sher Bahadur Kunwar has demanded to revive the canceled constituency infrastructure program. He said that the program should be introduced saying that MPs are no longer informed about the work going on in their area. “When the parliament is strong, the parliament is strong, and when the parliament is strong, the government is strong”, he said, “Constituency infrastructure development program is not mentioned in the principles and priorities of the budget. Development works are being done in a manner that makes the parliamentarians feel very humiliated.”
MP Shishir Khanal said that there is ambiguity whether the budget for the next financial year will be expansionary or contractionary. “If we are going to make an expansion-oriented budget, it is important to find out what its basis is. “It is not clear how the ambitious goals set by the government will be achieved,” said Khanal.
MP Raju Thapa said that the budget should include effective programs to address the needs of the people. Likewise, MP Mahesh Basnet emphasized that the budget should be created in such a way as to create jobs by increasing the development expenditure.
In the first meeting of the annual session of the House of Representatives held on Sunday, Finance Minister Dr. Prakasharan Mahat proposed that the above proposal should be discussed (except the tax proposal) regarding the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill. The proposal will be discussed in the Parliament tomorrow, Tuesday and the following Wednesday.
The next meeting of the House of Representatives will be held on 26th Baisakh at 11 am.