KATHMANDU, June 3: The government has allocated Rs 169.2 million for a special poverty-targeted program in the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26. Under this budget, the government plans to implement a program for the distribution of identity cards and support for poor households.
This program, listed as a top priority by the government, saw an expenditure of Rs 8.3 million in the FY 2023/24. For the current FY 2024/25, the estimated expenditure for the program is Rs 25.9 million.
Failing to spend
According to the Ministry of Finance, the budget allocated for this program, including the identification of poor households, is more than six times higher than that of the current FY.
The government has allocated a budget for the upcoming FY to identify poor households which includes Rs 2.7 million for contractual service fees, Rs 5.4 million for printing and publishing notices in newspapers, Rs 4.8 million for staff training, and Rs 150 million under the heading of unforeseen current expenditures. Additionally, the government will spend Rs 5.1 million for the Garib Sanga Bisweswar (Bisweswor with Poor) program.
