ओलीको चौथो सत्तारोहण र बोइलिङ फ्रग एक्सपेरिमेन्ट

काठमाडौं । यतिखेर २१औं शताब्दीको एक चौथाई बितिसकेको छ । तर, नेपाल अझै १९औं शताब्दीमा नै बाँचिरहेको छ ।

१९औं शताब्दीमा वैज्ञानिकहरुले भ्यागुतोमाथि एउटा अनुसन्धान गरे । धेरैले यसलाई अनुसन्धान नै मान्दछन् तर केहिले मिथक पनि भन्दछन् ।

खैर, अनुसन्धान वा मिथक जे माने पनि यसको सार यस्तो छ ।

१९औं शताब्दीमा केही अनुसन्धानकर्मीले उमालेको पानीको भाँडामा एउटा भ्यागुता हाले । भ्यागुतोले पानीको तातो सहन सकेन, तुरुन्तै बाहिर हामफाल्यो ।

तर, यसको विपरित जब अन्वेषकहरूले चिसो पानीको भाँडोमा भ्यागुता राखे । र भाँडोलाई विस्तारै तताउँदै गए । पानीको तापक्रम अचानक नबढेका कारण भ्यागुतो पनि बसिरह्यो ।

पानी तात्दै गयो, भ्यागुतोको शरीरले स्वतः पानीको तापक्रमअनुसार आफनो तापक्रम मिलाउँदै गयो । भ्यागुताले पानीको बढेको तापक्रम महसुस गरेन । किनकि, मानिन्छ, भ्यागुताको शरीरले तापक्रमअनुसार आफूलाई समायोजन गर्न सक्छ ।

तर, एउटा यस्तो समय आयो । जब भ्यागुतोको शरीरले पानीको बढेको तापक्रम समायोजन गर्न नसक्ने गरि पानी उम्लिन थाल्यो । यसबेला यति ढिलो भैसकेको थियो कि भ्यागुतो बाहिर हामफाल्नै सकेन र अन्ततः भ्यागुतोको तातो पानीमा मृत्यु भयो । यसलाई बोइलिङ फ्रग एक्सपेरिमेन्ट अर्थात् भ्यागुतो उमाल्ने प्रयोग भन्ने गरिन्छ ।

धेरैले यसलाई अनुसन्धान नै मानेका छन् भने केहीले यसलाई मिथक पनि भन्छन् । तर, भ्यागुतो उमाल्ने अनुसन्धान मिथक नै भए पनि यसमा मानवीय मनोविज्ञान जोडिन्छ ।

जसरी, भ्यागुताले धेरै ढिलो नभएसम्म तापमानमा क्रमिक वृद्धि भएको र आफू मृत्युको मुखमा पुगेको पत्ता लगाउन सक्दैन, त्यसैगरि, सर्वसाधारण मानिसहरू पनि राजनीतिक दल तथा तिनका नेताको वरिपरि प्रायः अन्धविश्वासका साथ यसरी लाग्छन् कि उनीहरूलाई आफुमाथि आउँदै गरेको संकटको महसुस नै गर्न सक्दैनन् ।

त्यसैले बोइलिंग फ्रग एक्सपेरिमेन्टलाई राजनीति अनि अर्थशास्त्रमा पनि एउटा उदाहरण मानिन्छ । विस्तारै भएका परिवर्तन राम्रो वा नराम्रो के का लागि भएको हो भन्ने बारे अधिकांश सर्वसाधारणले बुझ्न समय लाग्छ, र धेरै ढिलामात्र बुझ्न सक्छन् ।

तर, ढिला भएपछि त्यो बुझाईको कुनै अर्थ रहन्न ।

यसले सामान्य मानव मनोविज्ञानलाई पनि चित्रण गर्दछ । हामी ती चीजहरू स्वीकार गर्छौं जुन हामीमा विस्तारै तर स्थिर रूपमा आइपुग्छन् । तिनीहरूले हाम्रो जीवनलाई नियन्त्रणमा राखिसक्दा पनि हामीलाई त्यसले हाम्रो जीवनमा पार्ने नकारात्मक असरका बारेमा अनभिज्ञ नै रहन्छौं ।

तर हामी जब बुझ्छौं, आफूलाई उमालेको पानीमा भेट्टाउँछौं, र केहि गर्न सक्ने अवस्थामा रहन्नौं ।

नेपालका राजनीतिक दलहरुले पनि नेपालीमाथि बोइलिङ फ्रग एक्सपेरिमेन्ट (भ्यागुतो उमाल्ने प्रयोग) गरिरहेका छन् । पुराना राजनीतिक दलमात्र होइन, नयाँ भनिने राजनीतिक दल त झन् सुरुवातदेखि नै नेपाली समाजमाथि खतरनाक प्रयोग गरिरहेछन् ।

भोलि कुनै पनि बेला एउटा स्वच्छ छविको नेता देश परिवर्तन गर्ने आँट बोकेर आएछ भने पुराना राजनीतिक दल त सबैलाई तह लगाउन सक्छ । तर, नेपालीको भविष्यको लागि नयाँ भनिने राजनीतिक दल र तिनको नेपाली समाजमाथिको प्रयोग बढी खतरनाक छ ।

चर्को स्वरले घोक्रो फुटाएर पटक पटक झुट बोलेपछि झुट पनि सत्य हुन्छ भन्ने गोयबल्स सिद्धान्त तथा आफू र आफ्ना वरिपरिका कानुनभन्दा माथि रहेको हिटलरी दम्भ र लोकप्रियतावादले नयाँ राजनीतिक दल नेपाली समाजमाथि जुन खतरनाक प्रयोग गर्दैछ, आइतबार संसद्मा प्रधानमन्त्री ओली सायद त्यसैमा बढी केन्द्रित भए ।

हुनत ओली कमी कमजोरी नभएका नेता होइनन् । उनले अघिल्लो पटक आफू सत्ताच्युत हुन परेपछि संसद् विघटन गर्नेसम्मको दुस्साहास गरेका हुन् । इतिहासकै सबैभन्दा शक्तिशाली करिब दुई तिहाइको सरकारको नेतृत्व गरेका ओलीले अर्थतन्त्रमा पनि कुनै चमत्कार गरेका होइनन् । अझ साँच्चै भन्ने हो भने सार्वजनिक वित्तमा विकृतीको सुरुवात गरेको दोष उनीमाथि छ ।

ओलीकै प्रधानमन्त्रीत्वकालमा २०७४ सालदेखि सरकारले अन्धाधुन्धा ऋण लिने र अनुत्पादक क्षेत्रमा खर्च गर्ने कुप्रथा सुरु भएको थियो । ओलीको ४३ महिने कार्यकालमा नेपालीको सार्वजनिक ऋण २५० प्रतिशत (अढाइ गुणा)ले बढेको थियो ।

सार्वजनिक ऋण व्यवस्थापन कार्यालयको तथ्यांकअनुसार आर्थिक वर्ष २०७३/७४ मा ६ खर्ब ९७ अर्ब ६९ करोड रुपैयाँ बराबर रहेको राष्ट्रिय ऋण ओली कार्यकालको अन्तिमतिर १६ खर्ब पुगेको थियो । अहिले सार्वजनिक ऋण २४ खर्ब रुपैयाँ नाघिसकेको छ ।

आज नेपाललाई ऋण तिर्न ऋणै लिनु पर्ने अवस्था हिजो ओलीको प्रधानमन्त्रीत्व कालकै नतिजा हो ।

त्यसैले प्रधानमन्त्री केपी शर्मा ओलीले आइतबार (साउन ६) गते आफनै पूर्व कमरेडहरु नेकपा माओवादी केन्द्र र नेकपा एस तथा राष्ट्रिय प्रजातन्त्र पार्टी र राष्ट्रिय स्वतन्त्र पार्टीलगायतकाको विश्वासको मत पाएनन् ।

जम्मा २६३ सांसद उपस्थित सभामा उनको पक्षमा १८८ मत थियो भने विपक्षमा ७४ मत मात्र परेको थियो । असार ३० गते प्रधानमन्त्री नियुक्त भएका ओलीलाई एकजनाले दिन्न भन्ने पक्षमा पनि मत हाले ।

तर, चौथो पटक प्रधानमन्त्री बनेका ओलीले विश्वासको मत माग्ने क्रममा आफ्नो शैली नछोडेपनि धेरै संयमितरुपमा प्रस्तुत भएका थिए ।

नयाँ राजनीतिक दललाई लक्षित गर्दै उनले आफनो शैलीअनुरुप कहिले नेल्सन मण्डेलको त कहिले ‘बाजे र नाती’को प्रसंग सुनाए । तर आक्रामक भएनन् ।

नयाँ दाबी गर्दै आएका राजनीतिक दलले पुराना राजनीतिक दललाई भ्रष्टाचारी तथा देश विगारेको आरोप लगाउँदै नेपालीमाथि अर्को बोइलिङ फ्रग एक्सपेरिमेन्ट गरिरहेको पुराना राजनीतिका घाग ओलीले नबुझ्ने कुरै भएन ।

त्यसैले ओलीले यसपटक आफ्ना चिर परिचित प्रतिद्वन्द्वि नेकपा माओवादी केन्द्र तथा यसका सुप्रिमो प्रचण्डमाथि भन्दा पनि नयाँ दललाई बढी शब्द खर्च गरे ।

असार १७ गते सोमबार मध्यराती नेपाली काँग्रेसका सभापति शेरबहादुर देउवा र आफूबीच संविधान संशोधनसहितका विषयमा भएको सम्झौता वाचन गर्दै ओलीले नेपाल राजनीतिको नयाँ चरणमा प्रवेश गरेको दावी गरे । उनले भने, ‘यो नेपालको राजनीतिमा नयाँ चरण हो ।

‘अ न्यू च्याप्टर इन नेपाली पोलिटिक्स ।’

तर, उनले आफ्ना भनाइ सिद्ध गर्न बाँकी छ । धेरैलाई अझै पनि लागेको छ, मध्यरातमै वृद्ध नेताहरुले हतार हतार नयाँ गठबन्धनको सहमति किन गर्नु पर्यो ? एक रात रोक्नै नसक्ने के त्यस्तो बाध्यता थियो नेताहरुलाई ?

दुई ठूला दलबीच केहि महिनाअघि देखि नै छलफल चलिरहेको भएपनि दुई दलका शीर्षस्थ नेता केपी शर्मा ओली र शेरबहादुर देउवाले सोमबार मध्यराति सवा १२ बजे सहमतिपत्रमा हस्ताक्षर गर्नु पर्ने बाध्यताको बारेमा राजनीतिक वृत्तमा धेरै चर्चा परिचर्चाले अझै केहि समय बजारमा तरंगित हुन्छ नै ।

घटनाक्रम अनुसार, एमालेवृत्तमा यस्तो पनि चर्चा छ ।

असार ११ गते राती उपमहासचिव विष्णु रिमालको नेतृत्वमा नेकपा एमालेका २९ नेताहरू १० दिनको चीन भ्रमणमा गए ।

चिनियाँ कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी (सीपीसी) विदेश विभागको निमन्त्रणमा एमाले नेताहरू चीन गएका हुन् । भ्रमणको क्रममा चिनियाँ कम्युनिस्ट पार्टीको उच्च तहसँग भेटवार्ता भयो ।

त्यसअघि नेकपा माओवादीका नेताहरू पनि चीन भ्रमणमा गएका थिए । चीन गएको टोली त्यहाँको विकासमा चिनियाँ सरकारले गरेको प्रगतिको अध्ययन गरेर फर्केको जनाएको थियो ।

अझ त्यसअघि पनि चिनियाँ कम्युनिष्ट पार्टीको निमन्त्रणमा महासचिव शंकर पोखरेलको नेतृत्वमा एमालेका नेताहरु चीन गएका थिए ।

यो तारान्तरको भ्रमणमा चीन नेपालमा फेरि एकीकृत नेकपा बनाउने मिसनमा थियो । नेकपा एमालेका उपमहासचिव विष्णु रिमालको नेतृत्वमा गएको नेकपा एमालेको टालीलाई चीनले एकीकृत नेकपाको एउटा रोडम्याप नै प्रस्तुत गर्यो ।

पूर्व राष्ट्रपति विद्या देवी भण्डारीको नेतृत्व ओली, माधव नेपाल तथा प्रचण्ड सबैलाई स्वीकार्य हुने हुनाले भण्डारीको अध्यक्षतामा एकीकृत नेकपा बनाउने ।

जब त्यो खबर ओलीलाई चीनबाट सुनाइयो । ओलीले चीन गएको टोली नफर्किँदै असार १७ गते मध्यराती नेपाली काँग्रेसका सभापति शेरबहादुर देउवासँग नयाँ गठबन्धन बनाउन सम्झौता गरे ।

तत्कालीन प्रधानमन्त्री पुष्पकमल दाहालको कन्फिडेन्सको कारण पनि चीनको एकीकृत नेकपा ब्युँताउने योजना थियो । यता दक्षिण आफूसँग कम्फर्टेबल नै थियो भने उता उत्तरले एकीकृत नेकपा ब्युउँताउन मद्दत गर्दै थियो । त्यसैले दाहाल ढुक्क थिए । तर, ओलीलाई विद्या भण्डारीको नेतृत्वको एकीकृत नेकपामात्र होइन प्रचण्ड र माधव नेपाल पनि स्विकार्य थिएन ।

यसले पूर्व राष्ट्रपति विद्या देवी भण्डारीको र ओलीको सम्बन्ध बिग्रेन त ? नेकपा एमालेका एक नेता पूर्व राष्ट्रपति विद्या देवी भण्डारीको र ओलीको सम्बन्ध नबिग्रेको दाबी गर्छन् ।

तर राजनीतिमा सम्बन्धभन्दा सत्ता ठूलो हुन्छ । जे होस् चौथो पटक ओली संसदमा फेरि करिब दुई तिहाइको बहुमतसहित प्रधानमन्त्री बन्दै गर्दा नेपाली नागरिकमाथि एकपटक फेरि बोइलिङ फ्रग एक्सपेरिमेन्ट नै भएको हो वा ओली सुध्रिएका हुन् । 

थाहा पाउन धेरै कुर्न पर्दैन !

(published first time: https://clickmandu.com/2024/07/328942.html)

Government, development partners launch Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Assessments

Nepal has a robust legislative and institutional framework for public financial management, but further reforms are needed to strengthen fiscal and budget outcomes to support green, resilient, and inclusive development, says the third Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Performance Assessment Reports.

The PEFA Performance Assessment Reports were jointly launched today by the government  with support from the Multi-Donor Trust Fund. The assessment is based on the internationally recognised PEFA Framework to assess the progress of Public Financial Management (PFM) across the government. Based on the assessments, the government will prepare a medium-term PFM Reform Strategy and Action Plan.

“Public financial management has the power to change people's lives and livelihoods,” finance minister Barsha Man Pun said, adding that Nepal is committed to establishing a strong and robust public finance system and transforming the public financial management landscape through rigorous reforms and adoption of digital governance.

The government partnered with the Nepal Public Financial Management Multi-Donor Trust Fund supported by Australia; European Union; the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office; Norway; Switzerland; and U.S. Agency for International Development and administered by the World Bank to conduct the assessments. The reports consist of the PFM Performance Assessment, Climate Responsive PFM Performance Assessment, and Gender Responsive PFM Performance Assessment. Nepal is the second country after Bhutan in South Asia to undertake PEFA Climate and PEFA Gender Assessments. 

According to the PFM performance assessment, the government has deployed a range of information systems to enhance the efficiency of PFM. The adherence to international standards in the budget and accounts classification ensures comparability, accuracy, comprehensiveness, and transparency in financial information. Budgets are designed with a medium-term outlook, and the predictability of resource availability for spending units is at a high level. The fiscal transfers allocated to subnational governments exhibit transparency and adherence to established rules while the scope and coverage of both the internal and external audits are extensive. 

“Nepal’s successful completion of the PEFA assessment demonstrates its commitment to sound financial management practices,”  World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos said, adding that development partners, including the World Bank, are committed to supporting the next generation of public financial management reforms for Nepal’s green, resilient, and inclusive development. 

The assessment highlights the following areas for potential PFM reforms to achieve better fiscal and budgetary outcomes in the future:

• Restoring fiscal credibility through a sustainable medium-term expenditure framework, recalibration of fiscal rules, expenditure reprioritization, and risk management. 

• Improving public investment efficiency by reducing inefficiencies and building climate-resilient infrastructure. 

• Applying a climate and gender lens to fiscal decision-making to mainstream climate and gender considerations. 

• Enhancing fiscal transparency and accountability by enforcing fiscal rules and promoting accountability.

“As the PEFA assessment demonstrates, some crucial elements center on fiscal discipline and its impact on service delivery. Better fiscal discipline is needed for more effective, inclusive, and accountable delivery of services,” said acting mission director of USAID Nepal Karen Welch. “We, the development partners, bring assistance that supports the government’s efforts across many sectors, like health and education, environmental preservation, and attention to marginalised groups. Sound PFM allows us to work together to better benefit the people of Nepal.”

The programme was chaired by the finance secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini. chief secretary. Dr Baikuntha Aryal, revenue secretary Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire, and financial comptroller general Hari Prasad Mainali expressed their views and reiterated their commitment for PFM reforms as indicated by this assessment. The event also included a panel discussion on the topic: “How can Nepal improve capital expenditure to achieve development outcomes?”.

The event was attended by high-level government officials, accountability institutions, and development partners involved in PFM, including climate and gender agencies. 

USAID to continue support to Nepal

USAID assistant administrator of the Bureau of Asia Gloria D Steele paid courtesy call with the finance minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada today.
Khatiwada welcoming Steel thanked USAID for decades long support in various areas of Nepal's development. He also expected continuation of USAID as a long standing partner for the development efforts of Nepal.
On the occasion, Steele assured finance minister for USAID's continued support to Nepal’s socio-economic transformation along with implementation of federalism. She also mentioned USAID’s readiness to support capacity building efforts of the government particularly at the provincial and local levels together with other development partners.
Khatiwada recalled USAID’s assistance in policy reform right from 1990’s which were a transformative one. He also highlighted that Nepal has focused on credible budget system along with accountability, transparency in Public Financial Management (PFM) at all levels of the government.
In addition, he pointed out that importance of effective revenue mobilisation avoiding multiple and double taxation so as to reduce the cost of doing business as components of PFM.
Steele appreciated the Nepal’s success in implementing fiscal federalism and expected further steps to consolidate the reforms taken so far.
During the meeting, the ambassador of United State of America to Nepal Randy Berry highlighted the importance of partnership in the development efforts of Nepal.
Steele also wished that Nepal’s transition would move faster to get optimum development results.

Nepal receives $100 million grant to improve governance

Nepal has received $100 million grant to improve governance from the European Union (EU) and development partner countries.
The EU and the governments of Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom (UK), collectively referred to as the development partners Joint Financing Arrangement (JFA) have agreed to provide a grant assistance worth $100 million, equivalent to Rs 11.4 billion to Nepal, according to a press note from the EU office in Kathmandu.
The Joint Financing Arrangement to this effect was signed and exchanged between the government of Nepal and JFA development partners at the Finance Ministry, the press note reads, adding that the JFA was signed by  joint secretary at Finance Ministry Shree Krishna Nepal, and permanent secretary at the Department for International Development (DFID) Matthew John Rycroft,  ambassador at the Norwegian Embassy in Nepal Lasse Bjorn Johannessen and ambassador at the Swiss Embassy in Nepal Elisabeth Von Capeller on behalf of their respective governments. “The European Union has already extended the commitments and will sign the JFA at the earliest.”
The grant assistance aims to strengthen the capacity of provincial and local governments to deliver public service in a more effective and efficient way, another press note issued by the Finance Ministry reads. “The project will ensure to attain functional, sustainable, inclusive and accountable provincial and local governance by maximising benefits of cooperative federalism for Nepali citizens,” it reads, adding that the project will conclude in four fiscal years commencing from July 2019-20 and wrapping up in July 2022-23. “Important activities listed under the project are innovation and partnership fund, local policy, strategy, guidelines, framework and institutional development, capacity development programme (province and local level), and public financial management (PMF) for the implementation of SuTRA and local PFM.”
The project is expected to be a landmark project in capacitating the subnational governments by bridging the existing gap between the three levels of governance system, it adds.
Meanwhile, Nepal has expressed its appreciation to the EU, and the governments of the UK, Norway and Switzerland for providing such generous financial support for this programme and for the continuation of trusted partnership in strengthening provincial and local level governance.

Effective public finance management a challenge for fiscal federalism

Stakeholders have underlined the need for the effective public finance management (PFM) for smooth transition to and effective implementation of fiscal federalism.
Speaking at an interaction programme on ‘Public Finance Management’ organised by Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON) with the support of Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) secretariat today, they also pointed out various challenges for the effective public finance management – in ensuring transparency putting in place better reporting standards and strengthening institutions involved in public spending – in the new federal system.
"As the country is implementing the fiscal federalism, institutional capacity, fiscal capacity and technical capacity building is the key challenge for the effective public finance management," secretary at the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission (NNRFC) Baikuntha Aryal said, adding that the capacity of Finance Ministry alone is not adequate for the efficient resource allocation. "All spending agencies should have similar capacity."
However, there is a huge question on the capacity of the Finance Ministry as well.
Likewise, chief of Budget and Programme Division at the Finance Ministry Hari Saran Pudasaini, on the occasion, pointed out the problem of lack of database and reporting system at the sub-national level. He also said that the lack of functionaries at the local levels have led to the poor execution of capital budget. "We have handed over the functions and finances to the local level governments," he said, "But, there was delay in sending functionaries which has led to low spending of the capital budget, particularly that should have been spent through local-level governments."
Former Financial Comptroller General Suresh Pradhan warned that lack of proper accounting, recording and reporting system at local level could lead to financial indiscipline. 
"The public finance management in recent years is getting linked with the macro-economy of the country, rather than limiting it to budget cycle," said coordinator at the PEFA Secretariat Sushil Pandey. "The public finance or spending should be aimed at increasing social equity, maintaining financial balance and ensuring justifiable results,” he added.
Likewise, lead financial management specialist at the World Bank Office in Nepal
Franck Bessette, opined that the public finance management remains a core part of democracy. "Having right and experienced people able to prepare, discuss and implement the budget and do the procurement works at the local level in the new federal system remains a challenge."
Despite the early budget approval from last couple of years – according to the Constitution – the government spending has not been increased due to inefficient bureaucracy, lack of capacity and technical knowhow of the not only local governments but also the federal government.
Though, the government has been working to simplify the public procurement process to boost spending on development projects, it has not been able to due to mainly lack of an effective oversight agency. Almost every year, the government fails to spend budget allocated for the development projects. According to the Financial Comptroller General Office, only 28.89 per cent of the total Rs 313.99 billion earmarked for capital expenditure for the current fiscal year 2018-19 had been spent as of mid-March.
Even if the budget is spent, lack of quality, transparent and accountability has always been under question.
Former finance secretary Shankar Prasad Adhikari, on the occasion, said that the government needed to devise a mechanism to promptly address issues related to quality assurance and project design. 

'The 11th hour spending spree encouraging financial crime'

Government expenditure that remains sluggish till the 11th month of the fiscal year, gains momentum in the final month of the fiscal years, according to the historical trend of budget expenditure.
The last month of the fiscal year – from mid-June to mid-July – generally sees spending of more than a quarter of the total annual budget, figures compiled by the Financial Comptroller General’s Office shows. The trend has not only encouraged financial indiscipline but also exposed lack of accountability and gross violation of basic fundamentals of public financial management, let alone the quality of last minute expenditure.
"Last minute spending is a financial crime,” says former senior adviser to Finance Ministry Keshav Acharya.
In Fiscal Year 2010-11, the Finance Ministry had issued a directive to line ministries advising them not to spend more than 40 per cent of the total budget in the last three months from mid-April to mid-July, Acharya reminded, adding that the ministry had also asked all the government agencies not to spend more than 20 per cent in the 12th month of the fiscal year. “However, the government has failed to implement this rule.”
According to former Auditor General Bhanu Prasad Acharya, last minute spending is not only financial indiscipline but also misuse of public purse. "We cannot be assured on quality of last minute spending as it is intended to ‘just spend’ the budget,” he added.
Successive governments have been spending almost a quarter of the total budget in the last month of the fiscal year, according to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office (FCGO) data.
In 2014-15, the government had spent a total of Rs 142.5 billion in the 12th month of the fiscal year, whereas the total annual budget for the last fiscal year was Rs 618 billion. A fiscal year earlier, the government had spent Rs 117.16 billion in the last month out of the total annual budget of Rs 517.24 billion.
Likewise, the government has managed to spend only half of the total budget by the end of the 11 months of the current fiscal year.
"As of June 25, the government has been able to spend only 53.94 per cent (Rs 442.01 billion) of the total budget of Rs 819.46 billion for the current fiscal year,” the FCGO data revealed, adding that the government has been able to spent 62.25 per cent (Rs 301.42 billion) in recurrent expenditure, and 31.24 per cent (Rs 65.25 billion) in capital expenditures.
The government had allocated Rs 484.26 billion for recurrent expenditure, whereas Rs 208.9 billion was allocated for capital expenditure for the current fiscal year 2015-16.
Though the low level of capital expenditure is attributed to budgeting system as it incorporates half-baked projects and projects of political interest often not implementable, the government has been not able to spend the recurrent expenditure too.
However, finance ministry officials say that the trend of last-minute spending will continue this fiscal year as well and the remaining 20 days will see surge in overall budget spending.
Former finance secretary Rameshwor Khanal attributes last minute expenditures to some valid technical reasons but more to the systemic and governance problem.
Generally, a contractor will prepare bill after 28 days of the completion of the work, he said, adding that the engineers will then verify and evaluate the work, and the contractor will make claim for payment in another 28 days. "They should ideally get payment within 2 months of the completion of the work."
However, the paying authority will start bargaining before making payment and keeps the payment pending till they get their cut, Khanal added. “At the end of the fiscal year, either one has to give the cut to get paid or the budget will be frozen.”
The current government record system also cannot show when the work has been completed, he said.
“Thus, the bill paid at the last minute could be the payment of the work completed in January or June,” he said, adding that the paying authority takes the advantage of the lack of tracking system and bargains for the cut.
Most of the 'Payment Ministries' like the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation and Ministry of Energy has the culture of making payment in the last hour, pushing last month’s spending figures up.
Development partners also send the record of the projects completed through their direct payment at the last month of the fiscal year. Likewise, the government schedules the debt payment in the last month of the fiscal year also pushing the spending up in the last month.
However, Khanal attributed the last hour surge in budget spending to the lack of governance, financial indiscipline, eroding capacity of bureaucracy and lack of political willpower.

'The 11th hour spending spree encouraging financial crime'

Government expenditure that remains sluggish till the 11th month of the fiscal year, gains momentum in the final month of the fiscal years, according to the historical trend of budget expenditure.
The last month of the fiscal year – from mid-June to mid-July – generally sees spending of more than a quarter of the total annual budget, figures compiled by the Financial Comptroller General’s Office shows. The trend has not only encouraged financial indiscipline but also exposed lack of accountability and gross violation of basic fundamentals of public financial management, let alone the quality of last minute expenditure.
"Last minute spending is a financial crime,” says former senior adviser to Finance Ministry Keshav Acharya.
In Fiscal Year 2010-11, the Finance Ministry had issued a directive to line ministries advising them not to spend more than 40 per cent of the total budget in the last three months from mid-April to mid-July, Acharya reminded, adding that the ministry had also asked all the government agencies not to spend more than 20 per cent in the 12th month of the fiscal year. “However, the government has failed to implement this rule.”
According to former Auditor General Bhanu Prasad Acharya, last minute spending is not only financial indiscipline but also misuse of public purse. "We cannot be assured on quality of last minute spending as it is intended to ‘just spend’ the budget,” he added.
Successive governments have been spending almost a quarter of the total budget in the last month of the fiscal year, according to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office (FCGO) data.
In 2014-15, the government had spent a total of Rs 142.5 billion in the 12th month of the fiscal year, whereas the total annual budget for the last fiscal year was Rs 618 billion. A fiscal year earlier, the government had spent Rs 117.16 billion in the last month out of the total annual budget of Rs 517.24 billion.
Likewise, the government has managed to spend only half of the total budget by the end of the 11 months of the current fiscal year.
"As of June 25, the government has been able to spend only 53.94 per cent (Rs 442.01 billion) of the total budget of Rs 819.46 billion for the current fiscal year,” the FCGO data revealed, adding that the government has been able to spent 62.25 per cent (Rs 301.42 billion) in recurrent expenditure, and 31.24 per cent (Rs 65.25 billion) in capital expenditures.
The government had allocated Rs 484.26 billion for recurrent expenditure, whereas Rs 208.9 billion was allocated for capital expenditure for the current fiscal year 2015-16.
Though the low level of capital expenditure is attributed to budgeting system as it incorporates half-baked projects and projects of political interest often not implementable, the government has been not able to spend the recurrent expenditure too.
However, finance ministry officials say that the trend of last-minute spending will continue this fiscal year as well and the remaining 20 days will see surge in overall budget spending.
Former finance secretary Rameshwor Khanal attributes last minute expenditures to some valid technical reasons but more to the systemic and governance problem.
Generally, a contractor will prepare bill after 28 days of the completion of the work, he said, adding that the engineers will then verify and evaluate the work, and the contractor will make claim for payment in another 28 days. "They should ideally get payment within 2 months of the completion of the work."
However, the paying authority will start bargaining before making payment and keeps the payment pending till they get their cut, Khanal added. “At the end of the fiscal year, either one has to give the cut to get paid or the budget will be frozen.”
The current government record system also cannot show when the work has been completed, he said.
“Thus, the bill paid at the last minute could be the payment of the work completed in January or June,” he said, adding that the paying authority takes the advantage of the lack of tracking system and bargains for the cut.
Most of the 'Payment Ministries' like the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation and Ministry of Energy has the culture of making payment in the last hour, pushing last month’s spending figures up.
Development partners also send the record of the projects completed through their direct payment at the last month of the fiscal year. Likewise, the government schedules the debt payment in the last month of the fiscal year also pushing the spending up in the last month.
However, Khanal attributed the last hour surge in budget spending to the lack of governance, financial indiscipline, eroding capacity of bureaucracy and lack of political willpower.