Suggestions galore for new budget in the Legislature-Parliament

KATHMANDU:

The lawmakers have suggested the government to prepare the new budget aiming to take the country to the track of economic prosperity.

Taking part in the pre-budget discussions in the Legislature-Parliament meeting on Sunday, the lawmakers said that the government should lay emphasis on agriculture, tourism, hydropower and physical infrastructure.

The lawmakers were of the views that new budget should meet the people's expectations, local bodies should be strong and efficient, provide relief to the people living below the absolute poverty and focus on social justice and inclusive development.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Arjun Narsingh KC said that internal issues should be taken into consideration while fixing the priorities of the new budget and it should be unveiled based on domestic needs instead of the foreign assistance.

CPN-UML lawmaker Sherdhan Rai said that the budget is being presented by being influenced from the traditional mindset and urged the government to announce budget to create employment opportunities, provide relief to the peasants and farmers with sustainable plan for economic prosperity.

Likewise, UCPN-Maoist lawmaker Haribol Gajurel said that the issue of land reforms should be included in the priorities and principles of budget.

Redistribution of land, development of advanced technology and the policy of public, private and cooperative should be taken ahead at a same time and economic policies should be given top priority in the budget, he added.

Likewise, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal lawmaker Kamal Thapa asked the government to bring plan for the double-digit economic growth rate within a decade.

He said that transparent, accountable and corruption-free administration were the most for attaining economic development in the country.

Also talking in the deliberations, lawmaker of Madhesi People's Rights Forum (Democratic) Dr Baburam Pokhrel urged the government to unveil the budget to graduate the country in the list of developing nation by 2022.

Similarly, lawmaker of Madhesi People's Rights Forum Nepal Upendra Yadav said the budget should be brought to run the closed industries and the private sector should be encouraged.

Sadbhavana Party lawmaker Laxman Lal Karna drew attention of the government for proportional allocation of budget, conclude the postal highway and promote employment opportunities.

Expressing their opinions on new budget, lawmakers Chitra Bahadur KC, Chandra Prakash Mainali, Prem Suwal, Dipak Bohara and others said that the new budget should be pro-people and target the grassroots-level people and agriculture for country's inclusive development.

Source: THT