Budget preparation should involve people
KATHMANDU, MAY 3:
Lawmakers have urged the government to involve the people while preparing the budget to identify their actual needs.
All development programmes must be need-based and people’s participation in the budget making process ensures it, they said at the Finance and Labour Relation Committee of the Legislative Parliament.
The involvement of local bodies — village development committees, municipalities and district development committees — is necessary for development planning, said a lawmaker of the committee Laxmi Pariyar. “Programmes identified by local people will provide direct benefit in a shorter period, therefore involving people while formulating the budget should be made a practice,” he said, adding the government had ignored programmes developed at the local level.
“The government has not been endorsing programmes developed and forwarded by local bodies,” he accused. “Therefore, people are not receiving any benefit from development efforts.”
Lawmaker Bishnu Rimal pointed out the weaknesses in budget making process. “Subsequent governments have been violating the prescribed budget making process for the last three years,” he said. According to him, the budget must represent the manifesto of the ruling party and be endorsed through the government’s policies and programmes.
He suggested the government to identify priority sectors to support long-term growth. “For this, government must select some projects as strategically important,” he said, adding hydropower development and expansion of road network must get first priority as they open opportunities for economic development.
Lawmaker Nar Bahadur Bista urged the government to build an all-season road network in Karnali to avoid food shortages in the region. “Karnali has a huge potential for production of high price crops and herbs but the existing road network is a major obstacle. Road network and pro-people agriculture policy are needed to lift the living standards of the people in Karnali rather than providing them subsidised food,” he said.
According to him, the government’s shortsighted plan is making them dependent rather than being innovative. “The government must develop plans that motivate people of Karnali to help explore their potential,” he said.
Likewise, lawmakers from the Far-West urged the government to invest in hydropower to develop the backward region.
Finance minister Barshaman Pun assured to consider their suggestions while preparing the budget. “Government is committed to allocate sufficient budget for priority projects and new programmes will be designed to meet people’s expectations.”
He also committed to maintain financial discipline while spending the budget. “We have transferred around Rs eight billion for the peace process and priority development projects,” he said. According to him, the Ministry of Finance transferred Rs four billion from other sources to the peace process, Rs 300 million for the fast track road and Rs 600 million for a railway linking two points in the eastern and central development regions.
