Sudur Paschim tables budget of Rs. 33.38 billion

The Sudur Paschim government has tabled a budget of Rs. 33.38 billion for the coming fiscal year 2020/21. Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Jhapat Bahadur Bohara tabled the budget estimates at the meeting of the State Assembly today.

Of the total budget, Rs. 14.18 billion has been allocated towards current expenditure and Rs. 16.84 billion towards capital expenditure. Inter-government fiscal management gets Rs. 2.13 billion while Rs. 3 million has been allocated for financial measures.

Economic Affairs Minister Bohara said the government expects to collect Rs. 607 million from internal revenue mobilization, Rs. 7.87 billion from revenue sharing with the central government and royalty worth Rs. 70 million from the sharing by the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission.

The main objective of the budget is to protect the life of the people in the State from all kinds of disease and disaster including the COVID-19 pandemic, reviving the economy, promoting self-reliance in agriculture and building the welfare role of the state in effective enforcement of the citizens' fundamental rights.

Other priorities of the budget are providing immediate relief to the people suffering from poverty and pandemic, minimizing the impact of COVID-19 and control measures, attracting youths towards agriculture and creating employment and self-employment.

Budget for the health sector has been increased to Rs. 3.26 billion, with the year being promoted as the health services reform year.