Equity tax on education and health removed

Kathmandu / July 21: The government has taken back the three percent equity tax imposed on private education and health sectors.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah announced through social media today that implementing this provision seemed to cause extra expenses and frustration for ordinary people, so the equity tax has been removed for now.

Prime Minister Shah said that after consulting with Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, it has been decided not to implement the current education equity fee and health equity fee for now.

“This government is a people-centered government based on the trust and expectations of the people. Our main goal is to establish good governance and ensure that all citizens experience a quality life,” said Prime Minister Shah.

The Prime Minister stated that the purpose of introducing the three percent equity tax was to provide better education and health services to citizens in remote and backward areas, to support the Dalit, marginalized, and needy children, to expand health insurance, and to mobilize the necessary financial resources for that.

He said the tax provision was introduced with the aim of expanding the tax base and making the economy more organized.

The PM mentioned that the government’s serious attention was drawn by the reaction to the equity tax reflecting equality at the citizen level, and that the government’s commitment to move forward by listening to the citizens’ demands and building an equitable society is firm and clear.

“Government’s all decisions have been and will be made with the citizens’ interests at the centre. If citizens are dissatisfied with any decision, the government will always be ready to make improvements and modifications,” Prime Minister Shah said.

The government is committed to implementing a policy that ensures 10 percent of beds in private hospitals and 10 percent of seats in private campuses and universities are made transparently and fairly available, so that underprivileged and poor citizens can access quality education and health services, he added. RSS