Govt’s policies and programs prioritize populist programs for next year’s budget

Kathmandu / May 24: The government is all set to announce yet another populist budget this year at a time when the country is struggling to improve its economic condition.

Announcing the government’s policies and programs for the fiscal year 2022/23 in a meeting of the federal parliament on Tuesday, President Bidya Devi Bhandari put forth a number of ambitious projects for the next year. The government’s policies and programs are one of the main guidelines for the budget that is scheduled to be announced on May 29.

According to President Bhandari, some measures to increase remittance inflow, to increase in hydroelectricity production and distribution and improvement of supply chain will be introduced through the budget. However, she spent most of her time talking about construction of big projects in the country.

Construction of the 945 km east-west railway lines, metro railway in the Kathmandu Valley and Rasuwagadhi-Kathmandu and Raxaul-Kathmandu railways have found places in the priority lists of the government. Likewise, an adequate budget will be allocated for the construction of cable car and ropeway next year.

The government has planned to construct a new provincial level airport at Bheriganga Ramghat of Surkhet district. The government will also construct a utility corridor on the road stretch of Maitighar and Tribhuvan International Airport along with a number of urban infrastructures throughout the country.

Similarly, the government will be promoting the construction of the Great Himalayan Trail that connects Taplejung in the east to Humla and Darchula in the west for tourism promotion. A total of 800 km of new construction and additional 257 km of roads will be upgraded in the next fiscal year.

As some measures to address the ongoing problem of surging import, the government will focus on improving the supply chain to reduce the impact of external factors. Currently, the country is feeling the heat of surging prices of essentials mainly due to an increasing inflation in import source countries triggered by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Effective implementation of anti-dumping and countervailing duty rules, auto pricing system on petroleum products, providing subsidies to export-oriented businesses and improvement of electricity distribution system have been listed as the government’s targeted programs.

Focus on protection of domestic industry

The policy and programme for the fiscal year 2022/23 has focused specifically on the protection of domestic industry and boosting the private sector to trigger economic growth.

Unveiling the government policy and programme for the upcoming fiscal year, President Bidya Devi Bhandari said that priority will be given to the green economy while promoting industry.

Nepali Industry, Nepali Market campaign will be initiated, she said.

Some highlights:

Prime Minister Productivity enhancement and consumption Programme will be initiated.

As in the past years, Make in Nepal Made in Nepal will be promoted with the support of the private sector.

Autonomy and authority of the Unified one door facility will be provided to attract more foreign investment.

Antidumping and safeguarding laws will be implemented effectively to protect the domestic industry.

Foreign investment will be promoted to enhance the tourism industry.

Cooperation and coordination with the Private sector will be ensured for the commercial generation and distribution of electricity.

Emphasis is to be given to the maximum utilization of internal resources.

Project implementation will be delegated to provincial and local levels except for National Pride Project and strategic project.

Specific rules and regulations will be formulated to effectively enhance capital expenditure.

Agriculture will be slated as a top priority for economic growth. A New Agriculture policy will be implemented. Organic agriculture farming will be promoted. Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization program will be restructured. Rubber farming will be promoted. Due Subsidy will be provided to sugarcane farmers.

The government will play a necessary role to facilitate land for the development projects.

The government will increase public expenditure for the construction of megaprojects and create a conducive business environment.

A unified programme from the farm to the industry will be established.

‘Make in Nepal, Made in Nepal’ campaign would be launched – President

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that the national identity card will be issued after identifying the needy families.

She said that 90 kilometres of the embankment will be constructed next year.

Addressing a joint sitting of the federal parliament, the President said that a ‘Make in Nepal and Made in Nepal’ campaign would be launched.

96% of people receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has appalled the efforts of everyone in battling against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing a joint sitting of Federal Parliament at International Conference center she said that Nepal has done a tremendous job during the COVID-19 pandemic. She informed that 96 per cent of the population have received at least a single dose and 85 per cent have received a full dose vaccine against the virus.

“Priority will be given to produce oxygen and vaccination, an essential to life. Similarly, skills and market for the native producers in the medical industry will be extended and the locally produced medicine and vaccine will be prioritized.” She said.

Mid-day meal to be provided up to grade 8, model schools at each local level

Students up to grade studying in public schools will get a mid-day meals free of cost.

Unveiling the government policy and programme for FY 2022/023 on Tuesday at the joint meeting of the federal parliament President Vidya Devi Bhandari also said that the government will work for ensuring access to and quality of education for all.

Quality of education will be ensured, improvement will be made in courses from primary to higher schools, school premises development and minimal infrastructure development will be ensured, and teachers in community schools will be appointed as per the need, especially in subjects like math, science and technology, she said.