Cooperative policy should be modernized: Minister Sharma

Kathmandu, July 5: Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma has said that in the context of low budget allocation for land record management, efforts will be made to get the maximum results by utilizing the budget received with maximum frugality.     

During the discussion on the Appropriation Bill, 2081 in the meeting of the National Assembly today, on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' responding the queries raised by the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation and its subordinate agencies, Minister Sharma shared that Rs 6 billion 820 million was allocated to the Ministry.     

She said from the same budget, the departments under the ministry and more than 6,000 employees working under those departments have been allocated salaries and allowances and expenses for office operations.     

Minister Sharma said that the ministry is serious about the long-term solution of the problems prevalent in the field of cooperatives, thematic committees have been formed with the state and local governments to solve cooperative problems, cooperative loan recovery tribunal, loan information centre, and cooperative savings and loan protection fund as provided by the Cooperative Act, 2074. She informed that the process of installation has been advanced.     

"Until now, 21 cooperatives have been declared problematic and the management of those cooperatives is being done through the 'Problematic Cooperative Management Committee'." The budget has been proposed to cover all sectors including women.     

On behalf of Prime Minister Dahal, during the discussion on the Appropriation Bill, 2081, in today's meeting of the National Assembly, in response to the queries raised regarding the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens and the agencies under it, Minister Sharma said that the budget has been allocated to address all these areas. (RSS)