Budget fails to make Kalikot people happy

By Premraj Simkhada, Kalikot, May 31: Locals of  Kalikot have expressed mixed and largely disappointed reactions to the annual budget for the fiscal year 2026/27 announced by the government. 

Although some funds have been allocated for the Karnali Highway and the Karnali Corridor, locals say the budget does not include any concrete or new package for poverty reduction, education, health, and employment generation in the district.

Citizens have also expressed dissatisfaction that the budget makes no reference to the under-construction Phukot Karnali Hydropower Project. 

Former mayor of Raskot Municipality, Kasi Chandra Baral, said the government has ignored Kalikot in the budget, particularly by failing to allocate funds for the Phukot Karnali project. 

He also raised concerns over the lack of initiatives for the operation of Sunkhani Airport.

Although every year the budget speech introduces large and attractive projects, locals say that programmes aimed at improving the living standards of ordinary people in Kalikot have again been overlooked.

The budget has allocated Rs.1 billion for the upgrading of the Karnali Highway and ensured funding for various sections of the Karnali Corridor. 

However, the Civil Society of Kalikot has described this allocation as “a drop in the ocean” for the district.

Locals argue that the budget has once again failed to bring hope or enthusiasm for development in Kalikot.