Ruling, main opposition lawmakers not to receive Dashain allowances

 After the public uproar, the parliamentarians from ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) decided not to take Dashain allowances this year. They have also decided to deposit the money in the government’s fund established to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

Issuing a press note, Nepali Congress chief whip Bal Krishna Khad said that his party’s lawmakers in federal parliament have decided to return Rs 4.32 million, which they were supposed to receive as Dashain allowances. Khad also said that they will deposit the money in the government’s fund that is set up to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

Likewise, a meeting of the NCP’s parliamentary party also took a decision to deposit the money in the fund. The Dashain allowances of the NCP lawmakers in federal parliament will be deposited in the government’s Covid-19 Fund, the NCP (NCP) according to a press note from the ruling party.

After the decision drew flak, the lawmakers were forced to return the Dashain allowance, though the decision to provide them the allowance was approved by the cabinet as the Constitution bars the lawmakers to take Dashain allowance. 

The NCP and NC lawmakers’ have been forced to issue the press note after the parliamentarians faced sharp criticism on social media for receiving Dashain allowances ‘even as the country is reeling under severe crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic’.

Last week, the Federal Parliament Secretariat had distributed Dashain allowances to the lawmakers, who claimed that they came to know about the allowance after the amount was deposited in their bank account. 

Corona bleeds festive economy red

 Due to shrinking income and decline in business – because of coronavirus spread – this Dashain is witnessing little or no economic activities.

The shops are open, but there are no buyers, as most of the people have either lost their jobs, or their income has been decreased, only to hit the festive expenses.  

The 10-day Dashain festival officially began from Saturday but with many businesses shattered as a result of months-long lockdown and prohibitory orders, income of a majority of the population has been decreased pressurising people psychologically and financially before the festivals. 

Once used to be vibrant with the beginning of the festival, the manufacturing, construction, hotel and restaurants, transportation, wholesale and retail sectors are hit hard due to Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the nominal GDP of last fiscal year stands at Rs 3.8 trillion, of which 82 per cent was made in consumption that accounts for Rs 3 trillion. The monthly consumption of Nepalis stands at Rs 250 billion. The consumption rate increases from mid-July till mid-October with the beginning of the major festivals. Though the consumption has suppressed this year in those months, the wholesale and retail trade saw less demand bleeding the Dashain economy red. 

During the first four months of the fiscal year the consumption used to account for an amount equal to Rs 1,000 billion with the start of festivity which got declined this year. Some 40 per cent of annual consumption used to take place in these four months of festivals.

Due to falling income – people’s purchasing power – and also increasing inflation due to supply chain disruption because of pandemic affecting transportation, workers and labour rate, the aggregate demand has fallen down. The government has – through the budget for the current fiscal year – and also the central bank – through Monetary Policy for the current fiscal year – failed to create aggregate demand.

Nepal Police to operate free bus service during festival

Nepal Police is operating free bus service from October 6 to 8 during the Dashain festival holiday.
The Police Headquarters is operating the bus service on two routes in the Kathmandu Valley, according to a press note. “The buses will be operated from 11 am to 4 pm,” it reads, adding that Route 1 includes Naxal, Jaya Nepal, Durbarmarga, Ratna Park, Nagsthan, Tripureshwor, Kalimati, Kalanki, Balkhu, Ekantakuna, Jawalakhel, Pulchok, Kupandol, Maitighar and Putalisadak. “Likewise, Route 2 comprises Maitidevi, Gaushala, Koteshwar, Tinkune, Babarmahal, Maitighar, Tripureshwor, Nagsthan, Jamal, Lainchaur, Lazimpat, Narayangopal Chok and Baluwatar.”
Police is operating two buses on these two routes for the convenience of the passengers during the festival, the press note from the Police Headquarters reads.