Lumbini Province to focus on production, employment and infrastructure in upcoming budget

Lumbini, May 21: The Province government in Lumbini has forwarded plans to underscore production, employment, infrastructure development, good governance and social justice through the upcoming budget for the fiscal year, 2083/84.

Minister for Economic Affairs, Dhanendra Karki, presented the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill, 2083 and argued the budget would be made objective, feasible and result-oriented irrespective of limited resources and increasing liabilities. He was making presentation in the Lumbini Province Assembly on Thursday.

Karki pledged increase in capital expenditure, curb in current expenditure and public expenditures along with fiscal discipline. He reminded the second development plan of the provincial government, sustainable development goals, socialism-oriented concept of the constitution and the long-term vision of 'Prosperous Lumbini: Happy Citizens' as the foundation of the upcoming budget.

According to him, the economy will be made dynamic by increasing production and productivity with effective mobilization of resources in agriculture, industry, tourism, energy and infrastructures. The sectors contributing to import substitution and export promotion would be given utmost priority as the Minister shared.

Creation of employments in the province with youth-targeted skill development, startup, self-employment and innovation-based programmes in the budget would be other features. Service delivery will be made smooth, transparent and citizen-friendly by bolstering the digital governance. The government is for introduction and expansion of digital systems in revenue administration, public procurement, accounting and service delivery.

The projects would be selected by taking into account the strategic importance and high returns, Minister Karki said, adding that even multi-year and incomplete projects would be paid heed. Stating that projects with dismal progress would be reviewed, Karki shared project bank would be consulted for systematically selecting and implementing the plans.

Road expansion and upgrading, and replacement of risky bridges would be carried out as part of the provincial road master plan. Construction of access roads based on economic, industrial and tourism potential is being forwarded. The Minister further mentioned the schemes as modernization of agriculture, organic farming, preservation of indigenous crops, expansion of irrigation, branding of agricultural products and value chain development.

Health sector is another priority, to which he pledged financial support for hospital upgrading, expansion of specialist services and critical treatments including that of cancer, kidney transplantation and heart valve replacement. Programmes to reduce malnutrition and promote mental health are also in government's attention.

Development of Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, as a centre for Buddhist philosophy and health tourism, emphasis on the protection and promotion of religious, cultural, historical and natural destinations, enhancement of technical education, information technology-friendly education, development of sports infrastructure and programmes are other in the to-do list. 

Social empowerment, road safety, safe drinking water, sanitation, land management, management and regulation of cooperatives, renewable energy, forest conservation and disaster management, improved tax system with adoption of technology, transparent public expenditure would be addressed in the upcoming budget. 

In the Assembly meeting, Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya presented the 'Fifth Annual Report of the Auditor General, 2079'. The Provincial Assembly members expressed their views on contemporary issues during a session. (RSS)