Home Minister briefs HoR session about task of high-level probe committee on visit visa

Kathmandu, June 24: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, while addressing today’s session of the House of Representatives, informed the lower house about the mandate of a high-level committee formed to investigate the recent visit visa scam.     

Speaking during the session, Minister Lekhak said the committee was constituted on Monday with a broad mandate to assess issues surrounding immigration management, visit visas, and other relevant concerns. He assured that the committee's work would proceed without interfering in the ongoing investigation by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) related to the scam.     

“The committee is tasked with studying and investigating matters related to immigration, including visit visa procedures and other associated issues. It is expected to submit a report with concrete recommendations in these areas."     

The committee will also have the responsibility to propose amendments if deemed necessary to existing laws, regulations, procedures, standards, and policies to streamline immigration management, visit visa issuance, and the movement of people in and out of the country.     

According to Minister Lekhak, the committee will submit proposals for improving the structural setup and human resource management within the immigration system. It is also expected to recommend reforms and effective measures to enhance coordination and cooperation among the relevant agencies involved in immigration affairs.     

In the process of preparing its report, the committee will go through international best practices on immigration management. It will also suggest ways for making the immigration system more technology-driven, user-friendly, efficient, and fast to improve public service delivery.     

Additionally, the committee will recommend strategies to clearly define and streamline the roles of all stakeholders and relevant institutions, proposing measures to ensure that records of arrival and departure of individuals are maintained securely and accurately, according to the Minister.     

The committee has been granted the authority to set working procedures on its own and may consult with representatives from government and non-government sectors area to gather information and suggestions as per the requirement. The final report shall be submitted to the government within next three months. “     

During the session, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak informed the HoR that the high-level study and parliamentary committee has been formed under the chair of former Chief Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi. The committee includes joint secretaries from six ministries.     

They are Tirtha Raj Chilwal (Finance), Aruna Joshi (Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs), Ramkrishna Lamichhane (Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation), Mani Ratna Koirala (Foreign Affairs), Pradip Koirala (Labour, Employment and Social Security) and Ananda Kafle (Home).     

Budget allocation done within the limits of available resources: Home Minister     

Meanwhile, the Home Minister has stated that the budget allocation has been made within the limits of available resources.     

Responding to the queries raised by the MPs regarding the allocated budgetary headings related to the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Appropriation Bill, 2082, in today's meeting of the House of Representatives, he stated that due to budget constraints, it was not possible to address all the demands.     

"Obviously, we have many demands and needs. But we have limited means and resources. In this context of constraints, we must prioritize the available resources and means to achieve maximum results," said the Home Affairs Minister.     

In the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83, a total allocation of Rs 208 billion 248 million 5 hundred thousand has been made for the Ministry of Home Affairs, and out of this Rs 192 billion 918 million 700 thousand has been allocated for recurrent expenses and Rs 15 billion 329 million 800 thousand has been allocated for capital expenses, he informed.     

"This amount is more than the allocation of the last fiscal year. In this, 109 billion is allocated for social security and protection alone. This is 52.3 percent of the total allocation,” said Home Minister Lekhak.     

He stated that a large amount is required for the salaries and allowances of security personnel, and since a large amount will also be spent on other mandatory obligations, only the money saved from the budget allocated for the salaries and allowances of security personnel can be used for other expenditures.(RSS)