Budget guided by distributive approach: Oppositions

Kathmandu, June 1 (RSS): Opposition parties have criticised the government’s estimate of income and expenditure for the upcoming fiscal year 2079-80 BS (2022-23) as they termed it guided by a distributive approach.    

Taking part in the deliberations on the budget during a session of the House of Representatives (HoR) today, CPN (UML) lawmaker Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal said the allocation of the budget to respond to the issues of landless people was positive, but it was focused on the election and guided by the distributive mindset.    

Hridayesh Tripathi from the same party questioned the government to further clarify its plan to provide a contribution-based pension. As he assessed, farmers would not be directly benefiting from the announcement of increasing investment in agriculture.    

Rajendra Linden of Rashtriya Prajatantra Party aired that the budget seemed not capable of intervening in a rising market price. As he claimed, “The budget focused on the election and the distribution will not bring a substantive change in people’s life.”    

Questioning about the sources of income, he said the budget based on foreign aid and loan lacked a ground for implementation.    

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janamorcha’s Durga Poudel was of the opinion that just distribution of land was the requirement to promote agricultural production. She pressed for bearing in mind national independence, sovereignty and interest while accepting foreign aid.    

As the lawmaker stressed, the government should take measures for protecting domestic industries. Drawing the government’s attention toward no allocation of a specific budget for combating increasing violence against women, she demanded the government bear the responsibility for the livelihood of rape survivors.