Government publishes expenditures related to Covid-19 response, Rs 2 billion vanished

After the huge pressure from the youth activists across the country to release the details of the expenses, the government has made public the expenditures related to the prevention, control and treatment of coronavirus infection. But the government expenses – made public today – and the Health Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal, and secretary at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) Narayan Prasad Bidari. Either the expenses made public today is false or the Health Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal lied in the House of Representatives and secretary Bidari lied to the journalist. Minister Dhakal, addressing the House of Representatives last week said that the governments – from federal to provinces and local – have spent more than Rs 10 billion to fight Covid-19. Likewise, Bidari – on June 3 – told the journalists that the three tier of governments – from federal to provinces and local – have spent Rs 9.87 billion, and some local governments still have not filed for expenses, which could cross Rs 10 billion.
However, the government today – after three days of massive protest by the youth across the country – published the expenses of Rs 8.39 billion, far too less from the announcements of both Dhakal and Bidari. “Either the health minister Dhakal lied in the House or secretary Bidari lied to journalists,” said a leader from opposition party in the parliament Nepal Congress (NC).
The directorate of the Coronavirus Control and Management Committee (CCMC) – led by deputy prime minister and defense minister Ishwar Pokharel – has ordered to publicise the expenses as the protest against the government’s lack of accountability and transparency has angered the youth, who have been protesting since last three days, various places in Kathmandu including in front of Prime Minister’s Official residence Baluwater, and many cities including Pokhara, Chitwan, Birgunj, Biratnagar across the country.
Prime Minister’s press advisor Surya Thapa shared the expenditure details in his tweet today trying to pacify the agitating youths.
According to the document – that has neither any sign nor any official seal – a total of Rs 8.39 billion has been spent so far in Covid-19 response through three tiers of governments. “Of the total, some Rs 5.63 billion has been allocated under various headings including medical/health supplies, health infrastructure, mobilisation of human resources, quarantine, and others,” Thapa claimed, adding that a total of Rs 4.10 billion has been spent through government entities including the Ministry of Health and Population, Defence Ministry, Home Ministry; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minsitry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Urban Development Ministry, and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Interestingly the Defence Ministry has spent Rs 2.40 billion – the highest among the ministries – whereas province-wise, a total of Rs. 2.002 billion has been allocated for the seven provinces under Covid-19 response fund, out of which Rs 1.3 billion has been spent so far. “Out of a total of Rs 4.83 billion allocated for the local governments, some Rs. 2.98 billion has been spent to fight the transmission of coronavirus infection,” Thapa explained.
The CCMC directorate has publicised the details of expenses made by various government agencies, money spent on procuring medical supplies including mobilization of human resources, development of quarantine facilities as well as other health infrastructures and miscellaneous expenses. According to the details, seven federal ministries have so far spent Rs 4.10 billion in response to Covid-19. “While the Ministry of Health and Population has spent Rs 1.58 billion, the Defence Ministry and Ministry of Home Affairs have spent Rs 2.40 billion and Rs 24.58 million, respectively. Similarly, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has spent Rs 52 million, the Ministry of Urban Development Rs 26.97 million and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Rs 14.2 million so far.
The government has spent Rs 3.90 billion to buy medical supplies, Rs 1.12 billion to develop physical infrastructures, Rs 58.33 million to mobilize human resources, and Rs 135.59 million for developing quarantine facilities. Likewise, Rs 401.59 million was spent on miscellaneous purposes, according to the details.
Bagmati and Sudur Paschim provinces are among those provinces spending the highest amount of money in response to Covid-19. While Province 1 has spent Rs 193.56 million, Province 2 has spent Rs 133.94 million and Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province and Province 5 have so far spent Rs 136.7 million, Rs 154.21 million and Rs 77.93 million, respectively. Likewise, Karnali Province has spent Rs 239.28 million, Sudur Paschim Province has spent Rs 364.87 million so far.
The directorate claimed that this expenses does not include the details of the expenses made by various local bodies across the country. Government officials informed that they have asked all local bodies to furnish details of the expenses made so far in response to Covid-19.
CCMC directorate – issuing a press note yesterday – claimed that funds have been allocated under various headings by the government for the prevention and control of coronavirus infection. “Likewise, the provinces and local levels have been carrying out expenses from their funds in dealing with Covid-19 crisis and the details of which will be made public by the government soon.”

Nepal elected Governing Council member at APCTT

Nepal – along with eight ther member states – has been elected Governing Council member of the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT) for three-year term from 2020 to 2023 during the 76th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) today.
APCTT is a United Nations Regional Institution under the ESCAP, reads a press note issued by Nepal’s Embassy in Bangkok. “APCTT promotes transfer of technology to and from small- and medium-scale enterprises in Asia and the Pacific.”
Nepal's election to the Governing Council member of the APCTT – for the first time after more than six years – confirmed ambassador of Nepal to Thailand and Permanent Representative to the UNESCAP Ganesh Prasad Dhakal, who led the Nepali delegation to the virtual 76th Commission Session. The session adopted two resolutions on ‘Strengthening cooperation to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific’ and the second on ‘Regional cooperation to address the socioeconomic effects of pandemics and crises in Asia and the Pacific’.
While delivering a brief statement in the session, ambassador Dhakal highlighted the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the national economy and underscored the need of enhanced level of support and cooperation to the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS to strengthen their resilience.
The next year's Commission Session will be held in Bangkok from April 26 to April 30 on the theme of ‘Building back better from crises through regional cooperation in Asia and the Pacific’.
The governments of Asia and the Pacific meeting today also agreed to pursue coordinated and decisive actions, as well as reinforce regional and global cooperation in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Endorsing a resolution at the 76th Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (CS76), they declared profound solidarity and vouched to provide unimpeded support and technical assistance to those most affected, particularly in developing countries with weaker health systems and vulnerable populations.
“Governments and leaders are grappling with a wide range of challenges that risk recent progress in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said opening the meeting. “Many countries are charting a solid course toward Covid-19 solutions, but millions in the region remain highly vulnerable and at risk,” he said, adding that the world has an opportunity to build back better on the foundations of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“When addressing the health crisis, countries face an unprecedented dilemma: the need to balance measures to contain the pandemic against those for socio-economic recovery,” United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Alisjahbana said, adding that in order to support countries in building back better, refocusing our work is necessary. She further highlighted three priority areas – supporting economic recovery, protecting people and enhancing resilience, and restoring supply chains and supporting small and medium enterprises, while urging countries to align policies with environmental protection and climate action.
Deliberations this year focused on the theme ‘Promoting economic, social and environmental cooperation on oceans for sustainable development.’ Towards this end, countries endorsed a resolution to conserve and sustainably use oceans and marine resources in the region. The resolution calls for countries to strengthen regional cooperation and redouble efforts to reduce marine pollution, improve ocean data and statistics, and support sustainable maritime connectivity. Countries also agreed to boost public-private and civil society partnerships in the sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism to increase economic benefits for small island developing States and least developed countries.