Laxmi Capital News
Govt white paper in a month

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is to announce a white paper within a monthto inform about the financial crunch resulting from the Sher Bahadur Deuba-ledgovernment’s decisions.

A sourcesaid the PM will also state his government’s plan to achieve the goals ofdevelopment and prosperity. Prime Minister Oli has directed his staff toprepare a report on the status of finance and governance for the white paper,according to sources.

“The whitepaper should be announced within a month showing the current financialcondition and status of governance after formation of the new government,” saidsources at the Prime Minister’s Private Secretariat. According to them, the PMwill inform the public about the government’s plan to achieve the goals ofeconomic prosperity, political stability and good governance. The governmentwill formulate policies on the basis of CPN-UML and CPN-MC’s joint electionmanifesto.

PrimeMinister Oli’s Chief Adviser Bishnu Rimal told The Himalayan Times,“The PM will address the nation after expanding the Cabinet. He will also issuea white paper.” CPN-MC Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal said today in Chitwan that thePM would expand the Cabinet on Monday.

PrimeMinister Oli and CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal have alreadydiscussed issues related to the white paper. They have received a report from atask force formed to prepare the government’s common minimum programme.According to sources, the white paper will be prepared by the Office of thePrime Minister and the Council of Ministers in collaboration with otherministries.

PrimeMinister Oli had criticised the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led caretaker government’sdecisions for imposing financial liabilities on the new government. The Deubagovernment had increased the grant for earthquake victims by Rs 100,00 and alsolowered the eligibility age of senior citizens’ for allowance from 70 to 65.

The Deubagovernment’s decision will increase spending by at least Rs 110 billion —equivalent to 3.8 percent of the GDP — according to the Ministry ofFinance.  The government spent almost Rs 24 billion last fiscal on old-ageallowance.

Budgetpreparation and its execution in all tiers of the government is one of the mostchallenging tasks of the federal government.

As per theleft alliance task force led by UML Vice-chair Bamdev Gautam, the governmentwill establish one integrated service centre for three wards of municipalitiesand each and every ward of rural municipalities within three months. Accordingto the report, Rs 1 billion will be needed for physical infrastructure to setup integrated services mechanisms. Integrated service centres will issuecitizenship certificates, national identity cards, collect land revenue,passport applications and provide primary treatment and maternity services.Post office staff will be authorised to collect revenue. Staff deployed in thefield and ward offices as well as agriculture and livestock office stafferswill also be utilised for integrated services.

Provincialand local governments will monitor the stalls the government opens to cater tothe needs of the public. As per the plan, government agencies related tocooperatives, industries and commerce will operate stalls at the local levels.National Supply Corporation, which will be created, will bear the expenses ofthe cost of transporting goods to such stalls.

Source: TheHimalayan Times, 25th Feb 2018

 

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