On/Off the Record
By P.R. Pradhan
Since the country was preparing to adopt federalism, we have been continuously voicing against such an expensive system, which was going to become a heavy burden for the nation.
So far, those championing federalism, who were speaking the voice of the foreign powers, didn’t listen to the voice of the majority. In fact, the general public was against the idea of introducing federalism, secularism, and republicanism. Even today, if a plebiscite, the Nepali people are going to reject the foreign-imposed system.
For the first time, Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat has revealed the truth saying that domestic revenue sources have not been able to manage increasing government responsibilities. Mahat, speaking about the domestic revenue situation, said that it has become difficult to manage the increasing responsibilities that the government has committed.
Categorically, he described that the size of the allowances for senior citizens and others has been increasing; the size of the government grant has increased; the size of the Nepal Army has doubled following the armed insurgency; the Armed Police Force has been constituted; the size of civil service is huge; and, since the introduction of the provincial structure, the nation’s expenditure has been increased.
In such a manner, the limited revenue source is unable to manage this expenditure, said Minister Mahat.
Mahat also revealed that the percentage of capital expenditure has continuously declined due to the increased volume of expenditure in the non-productive sector.
The result of any decision made on the whim of the leaders without good homework obviously will be negative. However, those foreign puppet political leaders didn’t think about the country’s resources.
Many experts had even suggested just for introducing three provinces if needed to introduce federalism. Also, those experts had suggested for not introducing such a large number of local bodies. Even today, the non-productive sector expenditure can be reduced by removing the provincial structure, and the structure of district coordination committees. Moreover, there is a fashion of appointing dozens of experts and advisors by the President, the PM, ministers, provincial ministers, and even mayors and chairs of the local bodies. If such a provision is removed, the nation can save a huge amount of non-productive sector expenditure. The government also can cut down its expenditures by dissolving unnecessary commissions and committees.
The government is paying four thousand rupees worth of allowance to senior citizens, and single citizens, among others. Those citizens have got a big relief from such support. We don’t suggest cutting down such a facility.
We don’t suggest reducing the size of the Nepal Army, but, increasing the existing size making it five hundred thousand in number. There is a group of foreign puppets who are advocating for dissolving the Nepal Army, an old institution protecting national sovereignty and independence. Of course, the responsibility given to the Nepal Army should be increased. The nation can develop a mechanism for developing the Nepal Army as the construction force using them in key infrastructure projects. The working area for the Army should be made wide by utilizing the cash deposit under the Nepal Army Welfare Fund in development projects. The Nepal Army is ready to run the Hetauda Textile Industry. The government should take it positively, however, the Army should not forget its professionalism. There should be a provision for running such projects by retired army personnel.
The contribution of the Armed Police Force (APF) is also important. The APF personnel are serving the nation with very less facilities. They are monitoring Nepal’s international borders even in remote areas. Their facilities should be increased.
Meanwhile, the government should stop deploying a large number of security personnel for those retired VIPs. Many political leaders, by using their influence, are keeping PSOs, they should be recalled.
The present problem is created by the political leaders of the day. The government has imposed heavy taxation on the citizens and international trade as well. Such a trend has forced commoners to escape the tax from which the smuggling trade has flourished. Keeping an open border with India has also encouraged smuggling trade.
Without strengthening the domestic economy, we cannot think about a strong nation. To strengthen the domestic economy, we must give priority to agriculture and also establish industries substituting imports and contributing to exceeding exports. First of all, the government should cut down unnecessary expenditures by removing provincial structures and increasing development expenditures as much as possible by utilizing all resources and security organs.
Login to add a comment