KATHMANDU, June 1: Members of the House of Representatives (HoR) have stressed the need for making the recently-unveiled budget for upcoming fiscal year 2022/23 productive by considering revisions in it and optimizing the resources. 

In Tuesday’s meeting of the HoR, parliamentarians Rajendra Kumar KC and Suresh Kumar Rai taking part in the theoretical discussion on the budget presented on May 29 said that it was a positive development that the budget incorporated issues such as creating self-reliant economy, replacement of import, prioritizing health, employment and tourism sector among others. 

Similarly, Parbat Gurung asked whether the budget was for building a prosperous nation or for strengthening or weakening the state? He accused the government of trying to appease certain sections of individuals through the budget. 

Likewise, Dr Dila Sangraula shared that the budget has prioritized increasing the salaries of government employees, lowering the eligible age for old-age allowance to 68 years from 70, and increasing exports, and enhancing productivity in the agriculture, education, health and tourism sectors.

She suggested the government introduce an employment program for those who have lost their jobs in the tourism and industrial sectors. Satya Pahadi dubbed the newly-presented budget as the 'best one' in comparison to the past budgets. 

Dr Bijaya Subba commented that the budget did not pay attention to curbing corruption, caste-based discrimination and racial disparity prevalent in the country. 

Min Bahadur Bishwakarma was of the view that the provision of pension for farmers was the main feature of the budget. He demanded further activating Dalit Development Committee for the overall development of the Dalit community. 

Bimala BK remarked that the budget was more election-centric than development-centric. Bina Kumari Shrestha opined that the budget was far from realistic and was a ‘government propaganda’.

Ghanashyam Khatiwada said that the budget had failed to address the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution. Nawaraj Silwal and Khem Prasad Lohani were of the view that the budget was ambitious and election-centric. 

(RSS)

 
• parliamentarians
 
• budget
 
• HoR