Government to bring pro-poor budget

KATHMANDU, APR 13: 

Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said that his government will bring a budget which will provide relief to poor people. “The next budget for the fiscal year 2012-13 will focus on people’s aspirations,” he said during his address to the nation today.

The government will focus on economic growth, social welfare, poverty alleviation and employment generation in the next fiscal year, he said adding that all programmes will be inspired by new visions. “The programmes will lead us towards prosperity.” 

According to him, his vision of a prosperous country is balanced development in all sectors, castes, gender and social groups. “Our motive to draft the constitution on schedule is directly associated with poverty alleviation, equal distribution of wealth and creating jobs for masses. Government is working on it and it is not impossible as the country has huge resources at its disposal,” he said. 

PM Bhattarai, pointed out that the announcement of Nepal Investment Year 2012-13, fast-track linking Kathmandu and Terai, exploration of West Seti hydropower, and upgrading of Bhairahawa and Pokhara airports as the future of the country. Likewise, he also mentioned about the government’s initiative to control price hike, corruption in government agencies and drive against revenue fraud during his speech. 

“The government is reforming the foreign employment sector to stop fraud cases,” he said, adding that his government will bring relief programmes for the poor soon. “One in every four Nepalis lives below the poverty line and the government is focusing on them in every policy, plan and programme,” he added. The PM promised to control the price of food grains through a price control policy. “People are affected by artificial price hikes, cartel and syndicate, so the government will bring adequate policies and programmes to control them,” he said.

Source: THT