Provinces press prime minister over unmet demands for key powers

The chief ministers of seven provinces jointly called on the federal government to implement the 17-point charter of demands they presented last year.

Expressing their concerns at the meeting of the National Development Problem Solving Committee led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today, they asked to fulfill the demands which are a must for the provinces’ effective functioning.

Last July, a delegation of seven chief ministers had presented their 17-point demands including deployment of civil servants, promulgation of laws, and revenue sharing.

“We jointly called for implementing the 17-point demand, most of which remain unimplemented,” Madhesh Province chief minister Satish Kumar Singh said, adding that their key and longstanding demands include adjustment of Nepal Police in provincial police force and promulgation of the Federal Civil Service Act as in the absence of the necessary law the smooth functioning of the provinces have been regularly under question. "Although maintaining law and order falls under the exclusive authority of the provinces, successive federal governments have delayed the adjustment of the police, and promulgation of subsequent laws.

The provinces also demanded transferring ownership of land and buildings being used by provincial entities to the respective provinces, and deployment and transfer of the officials in coordination with the provinces. Provinces have been complaining that frequent unconsented transfers of principal secretaries, secretaries and other staff adversely affect their performance.

The chief ministers have been demanding an arrangement to send secretaries by the federal government to the provincial ministries and by chief administrative officers to the local units, with the provinces retaining the ultimate authority to assign them duties. 

Currently, the federal government deploys them directly, which has created problems in the he provincial level.

Since the provinces have been facing unprecedented burdens from natural disasters, the chief ministers demanded urgent support and response from the federal government.

Likewise, delay in promulgation of the remaining federal laws to delegate the exclusive and concurrent authorities to the provinces, as well as amendments to existing laws to ease land acquisition for development projects and establish industrial areas have also hindered the progress of provincial governments.

The chief ministers also asked to amend the Local Government Operations Act to ease revenue sharing from river-based resources between local and provincial governments, and revise the Forest Act to allow them to use national forests. 

The Madhesh government has even filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court demanding authority over forest management, but the case has been pending since long.

The chief ministers have also demanded to repeal of the Urban Area Public Transport (Management) Authority Act-2022 to enable provinces to collect revenues from traffic rules violation.

The chief ministers, during today's meeting, also expressed frustration over delays in obtaining clearance from the forest ministry, which according to them is hindering development efforts of the provincial governments. In response, PM Oli said he too was concerned about the delays in development works due to lack of permit in the use of forest covered areas.

Oli was of the view that concerned agencies with forest should facilitate development efforts while also working to protect forests and environment. Instead they are creating barriers in development efforts, he added.

Oli, on the occasion, also called for running an effective, competent and transparent administration, which can priorities addressing the public grievances.

Government, World Bank sign $100 million project to improve provincial and local roads

The Government and the World Bank on Monday signed a financing agreement for a $100 million concessional loan from the International Development Association (IDA) to help improve the connectivity, efficiency, resilience, and safety of Nepal’s provincial and local road network and strengthen the government’s capacity to manage the road network.

The Provincial and Local Roads Improvement Programme (PLRIP)-Phase 1 will build and maintain about 3,000 kilometers of all-weather, resilient, and safe provincial and local roads and bridges, benefiting about one million people in Sudurpashchim, Karnali, and Madhesh provinces, according to a press note issued by the World Bank. "It will also strengthen the institutional, management and technical capacity of provincial and local governments to plan, design, construct, and maintain road and bridge infrastructure and improve service delivery."

The financing agreement was signed by the finance secretary Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire on behalf of the Government and the World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, David Sislen, at the Finance Ministry on Monday. A separate project agreement was also signed by the Ministry of Urban Development, the participating provinces, and the World Bank.

“This programme will help enhance rural connectivity, improve access to services and markets, and unlock Nepal’s economic potential in an inclusive manner, while reducing travel time and costs for Nepalis,” said joint secretary at the Finance Ministry Shreekrishna Nepal.

The Government recognises the scale and magnitude of transport connectivity challenges and the need for substantial investment to support provincial and local governments as they adapt to decentralised governance. "To address this, the PLRIP will help strengthen rural development and build the capacity of the provincial and local governments to handle complex sector challenges," the press note reads, adding that the first of the three-phase programme will target three of Nepal’s seven provinces and four local areas which will be scaled up in future phases.

“The programme supports Nepal’s federalism agenda by empowering provincial and local governments and promoting inter-governmental coordination in the transport connectivity sector to help improve the lives of Nepalis through better infrastructure and services,” said World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, David Sislen, after the signing the agreement.

The programme will introduce several best practices including five-year performance-based maintenance along with construction contracts, routine maintenance through self-help groups, community-led complimentary infrastructure, pilots on alternative means of connectivity and rural transport services, approach roads, and an online program monitoring and management system.

Election Commission announces final results of federal and provincial polls

Election Commission today published the final results of the parliamentary elections – under First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) and Proportional Representation (PR) systems – held on November 20.

Organising a press meet here today, the Commission informed that it will submit the final results to the President Bidya Devi Bhandari tomorrow. 

According to the rule, the commission has to submit the election results report, under both FPTP and Proportional Representation, of the House of Representatives to the President and the Provincial Assembly members’ results to the respective provincial heads within seven days of the announcement. The process of government formation as per Article 76 of the Constitution of Nepal will begin after the report is submitted to the President.

Likewise, The commission will send the report of the results of the provincial election to the provincial heads of the provinces on Saturday. After the President and heads of the province get the results, the final list of elected members will be published in the Nepal Gazette. 

The commission also reported that a total of 825 people were elected – some 275 to the House of Representatives and 550 to the seven provincial assemblies. “Some 184 men (66.90 per cent) and 91 women (33.10 per cent) have been elected to the House of Representatives and 350 men (63.64 per cent) and 200 women (36.36 per cent) to the seven provincial assemblies,” Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said, adding that some 86 political parties had been registered for the election for the House of Representatives. “Of them, 61 participated in FPTP voting and 47 participated in PR voting.

Likewise, altogether 17,988,570 were eligible to vote in the election. “Of them, some 11,047,034 (61.41 per cent) exercised their voting rights.” the commission reported, adding that about 5.06 per cent of votes were declared invalid. “A total of 4,285 candidates, or 76.4 per cent of the total candidates, lost their election deposits after failing to get the minimum votes required.”

According to the commission, candidates securing less than 10 per cent of the total votes-cast lose their election deposit. The parties lose their election deposit, if they fail to win any seat under the PR system. “Of the 47 political parties submitting the closed list of candidates for the PR system in the House of Representatives, some 40 parties lost their deposits as they failed to get least 3 per cent of the total valid votes.”

“The deposits of some 1,961 including 1,772 male candidates for the House of Representatives and 2,086 male and 237 female candidates for the Provincial Assembly have been forfeited,” Thapaliya informed, adding that only seven parties could become the national parties.

प्रदेश बजेट: वागमतिभन्दा आधा कम कर्णालीको बजेट

संघले बजेट ल्याएको दुई सातापछि सात प्रदेशले बुधबार आगामी आर्थिक वर्षको लागि कुल ३ खर्ब ५ अर्ब २२ करोडको बजेट ल्याएका छन् । 

प्रदेशमध्ये सबैभन्दा ठूलो आकारको बजेट बागमती प्रदेशको छ भने सबैभन्दा सानो आकारको बजेट कर्णाली प्रदेशले ल्याएको छ । बागमती प्रदेशको कुल बजेट ७० अर्ब ९३ करोड रहेको छ भने सबैभन्दा कम कर्णाली प्रदेशको ३२ अर्ब ६१ अर्ब रहेको छ । 

बागमती प्रदेशले चालू आर्थिक वर्षको तुलनामा आगामी आर्थिक वर्षको लागि १३ अर्ब बढीको बजेट ल्याएको छ । आगामी आर्थिक वर्षको लागि बागमती प्रदेशका आर्थिक मामिला तथा योजनामन्त्री शालिकराम जम्कटेलले ७० अर्ब ९३ करोड विनियोजन गरेका छन् । प्रदेशका आर्थिक मामिला मन्त्रीले कूल बजेटमा चालूतर्फ १९ अर्ब २ करोड, पुँजीगततर्फ ४१ अर्ब ५६ करोड, वित्तीय हस्तान्तरणतर्फ ८ अर्ब २३ करोड विनियोजन गरेका छन् । यस्तै, आगामी आर्थिक वर्षको खर्च व्यहोर्ने स्रोतमा कर राजस्वबाट २६ अर्ब ५७ करोड, अन्य राजस्वबाट ६ अर्ब २२ करोड, संघीय वित्तीय हस्तान्तरणबाट २१ अर्ब ६ करोड र चालू आर्थिक वर्षको सञ्चित कोषको बचतबाट १६ अर्ब व्यहोरिने आर्थिक मामिलामन्त्रीले बताए । 

सबैभन्दा सानो आकारको बजेट ल्याउँदै कर्णाली प्रदेशले आगामी आर्थिक वर्ष २०७९-०८० का लागि ३२ अर्ब ६१ करोड ६१ लाख ६३ हजारको बजेट सार्वजनिक गरेको छ । प्रदेशका आर्थिक मामिला तथा योजनामन्त्री बिन्दमान विष्टले बुधबार प्रदेशसभामा चालूतर्फ ९ अर्ब १६ करोड ९९ लाख तथा पुँजीगततर्फ १९ अर्ब ४३ करोड ५ लाख २४ हजार बजेट विनियोजन गरेको बताए । जसमा आन्तरिक राजस्वबाट ७१ करोड, चालू आर्थिक वर्षको बजेट खर्च नभई बचत हुने ४ अर्ब ५५ करोड, संघीय सरकारबाट राजस्व बाँडफाँटबाट प्राप्त हुने ९ अर्ब २ करोड, वित्तीय सामान्यीकरण अनुदानबाट प्राप्त हुने १० अर्ब ७२ करोड र सशर्त अनुदानबाट प्राप्त हुने ५ अर्ब ६९ करोड परिचालन गर्ने लक्ष्य लिइएको छ ।

हालसम्म नाम राख्न असफल प्रदेश १ सरकारले आगामी आवको लागि ३९ अर्ब ७३ करोड ८३ लाख रुपैयाँको बजेट ल्याएको छ । प्रदेशका आर्थिक मामिला तथा योजनामन्त्री इन्द्रबहादुर आङ्बोले प्रदेशसभामा कुल विनियोजनमध्ये स्थानीय तहमा वित्तीय हस्तान्तरणतर्फ ३ अर्ब १५ करोड १५ लाख र संघीय अनुदान बचत फिर्तातर्फ २ अर्ब रहेको बताए । अनुमानित खर्च व्यहोर्ने स्रोतमध्ये प्रदेश सरकारको आन्तरिक राजस्वबाट ४ अर्ब ९८ करोड, राजस्व बाँडफाँटबाट ११ अर्ब ८८ करोड, संघबाट प्राप्त हुने वित्तीय समानीकरण अनुदानबाट ९ अर्ब ८२ लाख, सशर्त अनुदानबाट ८ अर्ब ६९ करोड, समपूरक अनुदानबाट ९२ करोड र विशेष अनुदानबाट ४७ करोड ५० लाख एवं राजस्व तथा वित्तीय हस्तान्तरणबाट ३५ अर्ब ९६ करोड ६० लाख खर्च व्यहोरिने उनले बताए । अपुग बजेट नगद मौज्दातबाट ३ अर्ब ५१ करोड तथा वैदेशिक अनुदानबाट २५ करोड ६८ लाख व्यहोरिने पनि उनले बताए । 

मधेश प्रदेशले आगामी आर्थिक वर्ष २०७९-०८० को लागि पौने ४७ अर्ब रुपैयाँको बजेट ल्याएको छ । बुधबार प्रदेशसभामा अर्थमन्त्री शैलेन्द्र साहले आगामी आर्थिक वर्षको लागि ४६ अर्ब, ८८ करोड करोड, ९ लाख ४६ हजारको बजेट प्रस्तुत गरेका छन् । जसमा उनले चालूतर्फ २१ अर्ब ७६ करोड रहेको छ भने पुँजीगततर्फ २५ अर्ब ८२ करोड र वित्तीय व्यवस्थापनतर्फ १६ करोड २४ लाख विनियोजन गरेका छन् ।

गण्डकी प्रदेश सरकारले ३५ अर्ब ९० करोड ९० लाख बजेट ल्याएको छ । गण्डकी प्रदेशका आर्थिक मामिला मन्त्री रामजी प्रसाद बरालले आर्थिक वर्ष २०७९-०८०को बजेट प्रस्तुत गर्दै चालूतर्फ १३ अर्ब २६ करोड र पुँजीगततर्फ २२ अर्ब १४ करोड एवं वित्तीय व्यवस्थातर्फ ५० करोड विनियोजन गरेका छन् । केन्द्रको अनुदान १६ अर्ब ५४ करोडबाहेक राजस्व बाँडफाँटबाट ९ अर्ब २३ करोड र आन्तरिक राजस्वबाट ५ अर्ब ९ करोड र रोयल्टीबाट ३२ करोड आयस्रोतको अनुमान उनले गरेका छन् । 

लुम्बिनी प्रदेशका आर्थिक मामिला तथा योजनामन्त्री कृष्णध्वज खड्काले आगामी आर्थिक वर्षको लागी ४२ अर्ब ४३ करोड बजेट ल्याएका छन् । ृउनले चालू खर्चतर्फ १३ अर्ब ३२ करोड र पुँजीगततर्फ २४ अर्ब ४७ करोड विनियोजन गरेका छन् । कुल बजेटमध्ये खर्चको स्रोत तर्फ आन्तरिक राजस्वबाट ३ अर्ब १० करोड, राजस्व बाँडफाँडबाट १५ अर्ब ३५ करोड र रोयल्टीबाट ७० करोड हुने अनुमान पनि उनले गरेका छन् । 

यसैगरि, सुदूरपश्चिम प्रदेश सरकारले आगामी आर्थिक वर्ष २०७९-०८० का लागि ३६ अर्ब ७४ करोड बढीको बजेट ल्याएको छ । प्रदेशका आर्थिक मामिला तथा योजनामन्त्री प्रकाश रावलले बुधबार प्रदेश सभामा अगामी आर्थिक वर्षको लागि १२ अर्ब २९ करोड चालू बजेट तथा २४ अर्ब १४ करोड पँुजीगत बजेट विनियोजन गरेका छन् । यस्तै, अन्तर सरकारी वित्तीय हस्तान्तरणतर्फ १ अर्ब ३६ करोड ४० लाख र वित्तीय व्यवस्थापनतर्फ ३० करोड बजेट विनियोजन गरेका छन् ।

सात प्रदेशको कुल बजेट दुई खर्ब ६१ अर्ब

सात प्रदेशले आगामी आर्थिक वर्ष २०७८-०७९ का लागि कुल २ खर्ब ६१ अर्बको बजेट ल्याएका छन् । चालू आर्थिक वर्षका लागि सात प्रदेशको कूल बजेट २ खर्व ६४ अर्ब थियो । तर कोरोना कहरका कारण आगामी आर्थिक वर्षमा चालू आर्थिक वर्षको भन्दा बजेट घटेको छ ।

अन्तर सरकारी वित्त हस्तान्तरण ऐनको व्यवस्थाअनुसार असार १ गते प्रदेशले बजेट प्रस्तुत गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ । त्यसैअनुसार सबै प्रदेशले बजेट ल्याए पनि अधिकांसले वितरणमुखी र पूर्वाधार विकासमा एकदम कम बजेट ल्याएका छन् ।

सबैभन्दा ठूलो अकारको बजेट ल्याउने बागमती प्रदेशले ५७.७२ अर्बको बजेट ल्याएको छ भने सबैभन्दा सानो बजेट गण्डकी प्रदेशले ३०.०३ अर्बको ल्याएको छ । प्रदेश १ ले ३२.४६ अर्ब र प्रदेश २ ले ३३.७९ अर्बको बजेट ल्याएका छन् भने लुम्बिनीले ४०.९५ अर्ब, कर्णालीले ३६.५४ अर्ब र सुदूरपश्चिम प्रदेशले ३०.३३ अर्बको बजेट ल्याएका छन् । 

प्रदेश–१ का आर्थिक मामिला तथा योजनामन्त्री टंक आङ्बुहाङ्ग (लिम्बु) ले मंगलबार प्रदेशसभा बैठकमा आगामी आर्थिक वर्ष २०७८-०७९ का लागि ३२ अर्ब ४६ करोड ९२ लाख रुपैयाँ बराबरको बजेट सार्वजनिक गरे ।

यस्तै, प्रदेश–२ का आर्थिक मामिला तया योजनामन्त्री विजयकुमार यादवले प्रदेशसभा बैठकमा आगामी आर्थिक वर्षका लागि ३३ अर्ब ७९ करोड १४ लाख ३० हजार रुपैयाँ बराबरको बजेट प्रस्तुत गरे ।

बागमती प्रदेशका आर्थिक मामिला तथा योजनामन्त्री कैलाशकुमार ढुंगेलले मंगलबार प्रदेशसभा बैठकमा आगामी आवका लागि ५७ अर्ब ७२ करोड ९ लाख २७ हजार रुपैयाँ बराबरको बजेट ल्याए भने आगामी आवको लागि गण्डकी प्रदेशले ३० अर्ब ३ करोड ९४ लाख २७ अर्ब रुपैयाँको बजेट ल्याएको छ ।

लुम्बिनी प्रदेशका आर्थिक मामिला तथा योजनामन्त्री बैजनाथ चौधरीले लुम्बिनी प्रदेशको आगामी आवका लागि ४० अर्ब ९५ करोड ९७ लाख रुपैयाँ बराबरको बजेट ल्याएका छन् भने कर्णाली प्रदेशले आगामी आवका लागि ३६ अर्ब ५४ करोड ६६ लाख ३६ हजार रुपैयाँ बराबर विनियोजन गरेको छ ।

सुदूरपश्चिम प्रदेशका आर्थिक मामिलामन्त्री प्रकाशबहादुर शाहले आगामी आव २०७८-०७९ का लागि ३० अर्ब ३३ करोड ९४ लाख ५५ हजार रुपैयाँको बजेट प्रदेशसभामा पेश गरेका छन् ।

प्रदेशगतरुपमा तीन प्रदेशको बजेट घटेको छ भने बाँकी चारवटा प्रदेशको बजेट बढेको छ । प्रदेशहरु विधिवत् रुपमा २०७४ फागुनको पहिलो सातादेखि सञ्चालनमा आएका हुनाले आर्थिक वर्ष २०७४-०७५ मा संघीय सरकारले प्रत्येक प्रदेशलाई १ खर्ब २ करोड वित्तीय समानीकरण अनुदान हस्तान्तरण गरेको थियो । सबै प्रदेशले त्यही अनुदानलाई कुल वित्तीय स्रोत मानेर बजेट ल्याएका थिए भने आर्थिक वर्ष २०७५÷०७६ देखि प्रदेशहरुले आ–आफना बजेट बनाउन सुरू गरेका थिए । 

प्रदेशले पहिलो पूर्ण बजेट आव २०७५-०७६ मा ल्याउँदा सात वटै प्रदेशको कुल बजेट २ खर्ब ८ अर्ब थियो । तर, चार वर्षको अवधिमा प्रदेशको कूल बजेट जम्मा ५३ अर्बमात्र बढ्नुमा प्रदेशमा स्रोतको अभाव देखिएको छ । 

यस्तै, आव २०७६-०७७ मा प्रदेशको कुल बजेट २ खर्ब ५९ अर्ब थियो भने आव २०७६-०७७ मा २ खर्ब ५९ अर्ब थियो । कारोना कहरका कारण आव २०७७÷०७८ प्रदेशको कूल २ खर्ब ६४ अर्ब मात्र रहयो ।

आफनो आय कम भएका कारण सबै नै प्रदेश संघीय सरकारको अनुदानमा भर परेका छन् । प्रदेशको खर्च गर्ने क्षमता पनि बढेको छैन भने आय पनि उल्लेख्य नभएका कारण प्रदेशको अस्तित्वमाथि नै प्रश्न उठ्ने गरेको छ । 

Tourism is the fourth largest industry by employment: CBS

 Tourism industry is fourth largest employer in the country.

According to an analytical study report by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), tourism industry provides some 371,140 jobs, which is 11.5 per cent of total jobs in Nepali industries.

"The largest industry by employment is wholesale and retail trade, which accounts for 30.6 per cent of the total employment, followed by education with 15.9 per cent and manufacturing with 15.8 per cent," the report adds.

Province=wise, Bagmati Province, which includes Kathmandu Valley, accounts for the largest number of tourism personnel in the country, with some 161,674 persons or 43.6 per cent of the total employment, whereas Province 1 stands second with an employment of 56,782 persons or 15.3 per cent, the report reads, adding that Lumbini and Gandaki provinces employ some 47,827 and some 47,447 persons, respectively. "Likewise, Sudurpaschim Province has some 17,195 tourism workers, Karnali has 14,123 tourism workers and Province 2 has 26,092 tourism workers."

According to the report, the number of people engaged in restaurants and mobile food service activities stands at 243,790 or some 65.7 per cent, followed by short-term accommodation activities or the hotel industry with 76,010 people or some 20.5 per cent.

Similarly, airlines employ 2,750 people, and some 17,899 people are engaged in beverage selling activities. Travel agencies provide 13,223 jobs, the report adds. "There are some 134,832 establishments in tourism industry, which is 14.6 per cent of the total establishments in the country."

Bagmati Province has the largest number of 49,234 tourism establishments, accounting for 36.5 per cent of all establishments in the tourism industry, the report further reads, adding that the major tourist attractions of the province are the cultural heritage of Kathmandu Valley and Chitwan National Park. "Province 1 has 24,900 tourism establishments with Everest National Park and Ilam being the main draws for visitors, whereas the number of establishment in Gandaki Province stands at 16,412 with Pokhara Valley, Mt Machhapuchchhre, Annapurna range and Gorkha being the major attracting factors for tourists."

Lumbini Province has some 19,211 tourism establishments with Lumbini and Banke and Bardia national parks being the main attractions. Rara and Shey Phoksundo national parks are the major sites of Karnali Province which has some 6,351 tourism establishments. Likewise, Sudurpaschim Province has some 7,604 establishments with Khaptad National Park and Shukla Phanta National Park being its key destinations. There are some 11,120 tourism establishments in Province 2 with Parsa Wildlife Reserve and Janakpur as the key tourism sites.

The report also reads that the number of tourist standard hotels rose by 54.3 per cent between 2012-13 and 2019-20, while the number of star hotels increased by 29 per cent in eight years.

The number of beds in tourist standard hotels and star hotels rose by 40.9 per cent and 38.2 per cent, respectively between 2012-13 and 2019-20. "In total, the number of beds increased by 39 per cent from 31,657 in 2012-13 to 43,999 in 2019-20."

Similarly, tourism industry's contribution to the national economy (GDP) and employment stood at 6.7 per cent and 6.9 per cent in 2019, just before the Covid-19 struck the country shutting the tourism industry, completely.

"Nepal's tourism industry has not necessarily achieved its full growth potential, according to the report that has been released recently, though the industry has suffered a lot since March 2020.

Due to a surge in tourist arrivals, the amount of foreign exchange earnings from tourism also jumped from Rs 11.71 billion in 2000-01 to Rs 75.80 billion in 2017-18. "Tourism revenue in the fiscal year 2017-18 was equivalent to 9.9 per cent of the total foreign exchange earnings that year," the CBS reports reads, adding that the number of international tourists has also been increasing over the years as the arrivals more than doubled from some 464,000 in 2000 to 1.17 million in 2018.

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.”

Some 6 dozen local units in Province 2 fail to present budget

Though the Intergovernmental Fiscal Arrangement Act mandates the local units to bring budget within June 25, some 72 local governments still failed to bring their annual fiscal policy for the next fiscal year 2019-20, and surprisingly most of them are in the Province 2.
According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, some 72 local governments have not presented the budget for the next fiscal as of Sunday morning. “Half of those local governments are from Province 2, while 10 are from Province 3, six each from Provinces 1, 5 and Karnali, and four each from Province 1 and Sudurpaschim,” the ministry confirmed, adding that failure to present budget by June 25 is a violation of law, but there is no specific provision on what to do, if they donot present the budget.
In the absence of the budget, the local governments can spend – in the next fiscal year – only one third of the budget they have spent in the current fiscal year, according to the Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer Act. The delay will also hit the development works, as they will have no budget to implement them.
Around a dozen local governments did not present their budget on time for the current fiscal year 2018-19, and the story is even bad as some 72 local governments including Kalikamai Rural Municipality missed the deadline to present their budget for the next fiscal year 2019-20.
Though, there are few options for the federal government to pressurise the local governments to bring the budget on time, the National Natural Resource and Fiscal Commission could recommend the allocation of reduced funds for such local governments. “The local governments which didn’t present the budget on time for the current fiscal year and failed to spend budget have received less budget for the next fiscal year compared to other governments doing well under this criterion.”
Likewise, the appropriation bill passed by the federal parliament recently has authorised the federal government to suspend grant to local governments if they fail to report their expenditures.

Provincial budgets follow wrong precedent of federal budget, distribute budget to parliamentarians

Following the wrong precedents of the federal government, the provincial governments distributed the budget to parliamentarians, in one name or the other, which is a gross misuse of the public tax money. 
Unveiling their third budget – though practically second one as provincial election was not completed then – nearly three weeks after the Federal Budget 2019-20, the seven provinces, however, claimed that they have focused on infrastructure including including cable car, monorail and tunnel roads, and social development.
The provincial governments tabled a total budget of Rs 2. 596 trillion. The provincial budget has increased by 25.55 per cent compared to last fiscal year’s budget. Province 3 has tabled the highest budget of Rs 47.50 billion, whereas Far West Province has tabled the lowest at Rs 28.16 billion.

Province 1
Province 1 Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Indra Angbo tabled a budget of Rs 42.20 billion. “Of the budget, Rs 18.54 billion is allocated for recurrent expenditure and Rs 23.57 billion for capital expenditure,” he said, adding that education sector will receive Rs 1.28 billion, drinking water and sanitation Rs 3 billion, and irrigation will get Rs 3.2 billion.

Province 2
Province 2 government presented a budget of Rs 38.72 billion. “Out of the total budget, Rs 19.11 billion was allocated for recurrent expenditure, whereas Rs 19.26 billion is for capital expenditure,” the Province 2 government said adding that the government has announced Rs 30 million for each constituency in accordance with the Constituency Infrastructure Development Special Programme. “The budget has also focused on agriculture, education and health.”

Province 3
Province 3 Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Kailash Prasad Dhungel announced a budget of Rs 47.6 billion for the next fiscal year. “The budget has allocated Rs 24.46 billion for recurrent expenditure and Rs 22.03 billion for capital expenditure,” he said, adding that the budget will focus on developing infrastructure including ring roads and tunnels across several parts of the Province, tourism development, agro-sector modernisation, and community farming.

Gandaki Province
Gandaki Province Minister for Economic Affairs Kiran Gurung tabled a budget of Rs 32 billion. “Of the total budget Rs 12.28 billion as been allocated for recurrent expenditure and Rs 19.85 billion for capital expenditure,” he said, adding that the government has focused on programmes and policies announced from the last fiscal. “Additionally, it has allocated ample funds for the construction of ‘national pride projects’ within the province.”

Province 5
Province 5 Chief Minister and Economic Affairs and Planning Minister Shankhar Pokharel announced the budget of Rs 36.41 billion for the next fiscal year. “Rs 13.45 billion has been allocated for recurrent expenses and Rs 18.57 billion for capital expenditure,” he said, adding that the budget has given top priority to infrastructure and tourism development, agriculture sector commercialisation and mobilising the sector to eliminate unemployment, and completion of Gautam Buddha International Airport.

Karnali Province
Karnali Province Minister for Economic Affairs Prakash Jwala unveiled a budget of Rs 34.35 billion. “The budget has allocated Rs 13.05 billion for recurrent expenses and Rs 21.29 billion for capital expenditure,” he said, adding that the Karnali Province government has prioritized agriculture, infrastructure and tourism sectors, setting up the Karnali Infrastructure Development Authority as part of the budget allocation of Rs 1.2 billion for the infrastructure sector.

Sudurpaschim Province
Sudurpaschim Province Minister for Economic Affairs Jhapat Bahadur Bohara tabled a budget of Rs 28.16 billion today. “The budget has allocated Rs 12.57 billion as recurrent expenditure and Rs 13.06 billion as capital expenditure,” he said, adding that the government has prioritised agriculture, drinking water, energy, irrigation, infrastructure and roads. “The budget has also focused on promotion of a model agriculture village with Rs 5 million budget for every local unit.”

Province 3 largest recipient of foreign aid

Province 3 is the largest recipient of the foreign aid, according to a report.
According to the Development Cooperation Report (DCR 2018) released by the Finance Ministry today, the Province 3 – despite a drop of 6.28 per cent in aid disbursement – is the largest recipient of the development assistance. "It received $332.47 million in foreign aid in the last fiscal year 2017-18," the report reads.
Five – out of seven provinces – saw their foreign aid disbursement increase in the last fiscal year, whereas disbursement in Province 1 declined by 5.46 per cent to $58.31 million. "According to the report, out of the total development assistance disbursed, about 57 per cent ($923.2 million) was disbursed through national level projects while about 43 per cent ($699.6 million) was disbursed to projects associated with specific districts or provinces.

प्रदेश–२ मा गरिबी अझै बढ्नसक्ने

दोश्रो चरणको स्थानीय तह निर्वाचनका लागि आइतबार प्रदेश १, ५ तथा ७ का ३५ जिल्लाका ३ सय ३४ स्थानीय तहमा मनोनयन भएको छ । यी ३ प्रदेशका १ महानगरपालिका, ७ उपमहानगरपालिका, १११ नगरपालिका र २१५ गाउँपालिकामा सरकारको नयाँ निर्वाचन तालिकाअनुसार असार १४ गते निर्वाचन हुँदा प्रदेश २ भने अझै आन्दोलनकै बाटोमा रहने देखिएको छ ।

जसका कारण प्रदेश २ का नागरिक विकास निर्माणका कामबाट बञ्चित भएर गरिबीको चपेटाबाट बाहिरीन झन् गाह्रो हुने अर्थविद्हरूको भनाइ छ । केन्द्रीकृत शासन प्रणाली भत्काएर अधिकारसम्पन्न स्थानीय सरकार बनाउने र आफ्नो विकास तथा निर्माण आफैले गर्ने संघीय संविधानको मर्म भए पनि यसमा प्रदेश २ छुट्दा आर्थिक सामाजिक विभेद अझै बढ्नसक्ने पूर्वअर्थसचिव रामेश्वर खनाल बताउँछन् ।

“निर्वाचनमा २ नम्बर प्रदेश छुट्दा यसले उक्त प्रदेशमा सामाजिक खाडल झन् बढने, गरिबीको दरमा बढोत्तरी हुने तथा उक्त प्रदेशका नागरिकमा आर्थिक, सामाजिक तथा राजनीतिक आक्रोश बढ्ने देखिन्छ,” खनाल भन्छन् । आइतबार स्थानीय तहको निर्वाचनको लागी मनोनयन नभएको प्रदेश २ मा रहेका पर्सा, बारा, रौतहट, सर्लाही, महोत्तरी, धनुषा, सिरहा र सप्तरी गरी ८ जिल्लामा १२७ स्थानीय तह छन् । निर्वाचन नहुँदा स्थानीय तहमा गएको बजेट खर्च नहुने भएकाले झनै समस्या बढ्ने अर्थविद् केशव आचार्य बताउँछन् । “यसरी सरकारी खर्च संकुचित हुँदा निजी क्षेत्रको लगानी पनि बढ्दैन, जसका कारण प्रदेश नं. २ को आर्थिक सामाजिक विकासमा मात्र होइन गरिबीको खाडल पनि बढ्दछ,” उनी भन्छन् ।  

२०५८ मा यी आठै जिल्ला उच्च समृद्धिस्तर भएका जिल्लाको श्रेणीमा पर्दथे । तर, ती आठमध्ये तीन जिल्ला एक दशकमा नै मध्यम समृद्धि स्तरमा र बाँकी तीन न्यून समृद्धिस्तर भएका जिल्लाको समूहमा झरेका छन् । महोत्तरी र सर्लाही भने अझै पनि उच्च समृद्धिस्तर भएका जिल्लामा पर्दछन् । केन्द्रीय तथ्यांक विभागका अनुसार २१ प्रतिशतभन्दा कम गरिबीको दर भएका जिल्लाहरू उच्च समृद्धिस्तर भएका जिल्लामा पर्दछन् भने ३१ प्रतिशतभन्दा बढी गरिबीको दर भएका जिल्लाहरू न्यून समृद्धिस्तर भएका जिल्लामा पर्दछन्रा. जनीतिले देशलाई  आर्थिक उन्नति र प्रगतिको बाटोमा डो¥याउनुपर्नेमा हाल मुलुकमा यसको ठीक विपरीत अवस्था देखिएको छ । नेपालमा भने राजनीतिको सम्बन्ध जनताको जीवनस्तर, आर्थिक उन्नति र प्रगतिसँग नरहेको देखिन्छ ।

केन्द्रीय तथ्यांक विभागको नेपालमा गरिबीको लघुक्षेत्र अनुमान प्रतिवेदनले राजनीतिले मात्र समाजिक आर्थिक विकासलाई डो¥याउन नसक्ने देखाएको छ । प्रतिवेदनअनुसार २०५८ सालमा सप्तरी, सिरहा, रौतहट, बारा, पर्सा, धनुषा, सर्लाही र महोत्तरी उच्च समृद्धिस्तर भएका जिल्लामा पर्दथे । केन्द्रीकृत शासन प्रणाली तथा कुनै विशेष जातिकोमात्र राज्य संयन्त्रमा बढी पकड भएकाले राज्यको स्रोतमा उनीहरूकै हालीमुहाली रहेको तथा यसविरुद्ध गरिएको आन्दोलनले नै तराई मधेसका नागरिकलाई झन् गरिबीको चपेटामा पारेको देखिन्छ । 

राज्य प्रणालीले तराई मधेसका मुद्दालाई सम्बोधन गर्न नसकेकोले तराई मधेस पछाडि प¥यो भन्दै २०६३ मा मधेस आन्दोलन भयो । तर, तराई मधेस आन्दोलनले सबैभन्दा बढी प्रभावित बनेका आठ जिल्लामा सर्लाही र महोत्तरीबाहेक बाँकी जिल्लाको स्तर खस्केको छ । झन् अहिलेका आन्दोलन तथा र्निाचनमा भाग नलिने तराइ मधेसकेन्द्रित दलको ढिपिले तराइ मधेसमा राजनीति खण्डित हुने देखिएको छ । खनालका अनुसार तराई मधेस आन्दोलनले पहिलो चरणमा पहाडियालाई विस्थापित गरे पनि दोस्रो चरणमा तराईका स्थानीय धनाढ्यसमेत विस्थापित भएका छन् । “व्यापारका लागि ठूला ग्राहक पहाडिया वर्ग विस्थापित भएपछि तराई मधेसका बजार संकुचित बने”, उनी भन्छन्, “चन्दा आतंक एवं सम्पत्तिको सुरक्षा नहुनुजस्ता कारण स्थानीय मधेसीमूलका व्यापारी पनि अन्य ससाना बजारतिर सरेर व्यापार गर्न थाले ।” तराईका बजार बिस्तारै खालि हुँदै गएको र पहाडतिर स्थानान्तरण भएको उनका अनुभव छ । “यसरी सम्पन्न एवं मध्यमवर्गीयको बसाइँसराइले औसत समाज झन् गरिब हुँदै गयो र तराई मधेसका जनताको जीवनस्तर बढ्नुको साटो झन् ओरालो लाग्यो,” खनालले भने ।

विभागका अनुसार पनि सबैभन्दा बढी गरिबी बढेको जिल्ला सप्तरी भएको छ । २०५८ सालमा १५औं स्थानमा रहेर उच्च समृद्धि स्तरको जिल्ला समूहमा परेको सप्तरी एक दशकमा न्यून समृद्धिस्तर भएका जिल्लाको समूहमा झरेर ६२ औं स्थानमा ओर्लेको छ । सप्तरीमा एक दशकमा गरिबीको दर ११.५ प्रतिशतले बढेर ३९.५ प्रतिशत भएको छ । २०५८ सालमा सप्तरीमा गरिबीको दर २८ प्रतिशतमात्र थियो । राजनीतिक अस्थिरता र सुरक्षाको कमीले बजार सर्नु र आर्थिक गतिविधि घट्दै जानुको असर सिरहा र रौतहट जिल्लामा पनि परेको छ । यसका कारण सिरहा र रौतहट जिल्लामा पनि गरिबीको दर बढेर एक दशकमा दुवै जिल्ला उच्च समृद्धिस्तर भएका जिल्लाबाट न्यून समृद्धिस्तर भएका जिल्ला समूहमा झरेका छन् । प्रदेश नं. २मा भइरहेको राजनीतिक अस्थिरताले यस प्रदेशको स्थित झन् नाजुक हुने अर्थविद् डा. सुरेन्द्र लाभको भनाइ छ । “प्रदेश २ का जिल्लाहरूको मानव विकास सूचकांक गिर्दो अवस्थामा छ,” उनी भन्छन्, “झन् बढ्दो अस्थिरताले यस प्रदेशको अर्थतन्त्र थिलोथिलो पार्ने निश्चितप्रायः छ ।” राजनीतिक परिवर्तनको अनुभूति गराउन नसक्नु र जनताको जीवनस्तर बढाउने र सम्पन्न बनाउन नसक्नुमा आर्थिक मुद्दामा राजनीतिक दलले आँखा चिम्लने प्रवृत्ति नै प्रमुख कारण देखिएको छ ।

राजनीतिक परिवर्तनले नै सबै अभिष्ट पूरा गर्छ र जनतालाई राजनीतिक कार्यकर्तामात्र बनाएर आफ्नो राजनीतिक स्वार्थ पूरा गराउने माध्यममात्र बनाउनुपर्छ भन्ने राजनीतिक दलका नेताको सोच नै दोषी रहेको देखिन्छ । “राजनीति र आर्थिक मुद्दा सँगै जानुपर्नेमा राजनीतिक दल विकासभन्दा राजनीतिमा नै बढी केन्द्रित भएकोले पनि जनताको जीवनस्तर बढ्न नसकेको हो,” खनाल भन्छन् ।  तथ्यांक विभागले गरिबीसम्बन्धी सूचकको हिसाब गर्दा प्रतिव्यक्ति वार्षिक १९ हजार २ सय ६१ रुपैयाँभन्दा कम हुनेलाई गरिबीको रेखामुनी मानेको छ । यसअनुसार दैनिक ५३ रुपैयाँभन्दा कम आम्दानी हुने व्यक्ति गरिबीको रेखामुनी पर्छ । तर दैनिक ५३ रुपैयाँ आम्दानीले व्यक्ति बाँच्नका लागि मात्रै पुग्छ । 

गरिबीको दर 

• सप्तरी – ३९.५ प्रतिशत 
• सिरहा – ३४.६ प्रतिशत 
• रौतहट  – ३३.४  प्रतिशत 
• बारा – २९.९ प्रतिशत 
• पर्सा –  २९.२ प्रतिशत
• धनुषा – २३.१ प्रतिशत 
• महोत्तरी  – १६.२ प्रतिशत 
• सर्लाही –  १७.७ प्रतिशत 

प्रदेश २ र ६ मा चरम गरिबी

संविधान मस्यौदामा सीमांकन गरिएका ६ प्रदेशमध्ये प्रदेश नम्बर २ र ६ गरिबीको चरम चपेटामा छन्। मधेस विद्रोह (२०६४) पछि आर्थिक रुपमा थिल्थिलो तराईका आठ जिल्ला प्रदेश नम्बर २ मा राखिएका छन्। गरिबीले गाँजेका यी जिल्ला मात्र सम्मिलित यो प्रदेश कसरी चलाउने, तराई–मधेसका नेतृत्वलाई अहिले 'टोक्नु न बोक्नु' भएको छ।
'अखण्ड' आन्दोलन भइरहेको प्रदेश नम्बर ६ मा राखिएका सबै जिल्ला गरिबीको राष्ट्रिय औसतभन्दा निकै मुनि छन्। राजनीतिक दलबीच अन्तिम समयमा ६ प्रदेशमा सहमति भएकामा आर्थिक विकास एवं मानव विकास तथा गरिबीका हिसाबले यी दुई प्रदेश अवैज्ञानिक देखिन्छन्।
नेपाल जीवनस्तर सर्वेक्षण– २०६६/६७ अनुसार गरिबीको राष्ट्रिय औसत दर २५.२ प्रतिशत छ। यसभन्दा बढी दर रहेका जिल्लाको संख्या भने ४२ छ। तीमध्ये प्रदेश नम्बर २ का ८ जिल्लामध्ये ६ जिल्ला राष्ट्रिय औसतभन्दा मुनि छन्। प्रदेश नम्बर ६ का त सबै जिल्ला राष्ट्रिय औसतभन्दा मुनि छन्।
प्रदेश नम्बर १ को औसत गरिबीको दर १७.९६ प्रतिशत छ भने प्रदेश नम्बर ३ को २०.३३ प्रतिशत, ४ को १९.२१ प्रतिशत र प्रदेश नम्बर ५ को २५.६४ प्रतिशत छ।
प्रदेश नम्बर ६ को औसत गरिबी दर ४२.२३ प्रतिशत छ भने प्रदेश नम्बर २ को औसत गरिबी दर भने २७.९५ छ।
केन्›ीय तथ्यांक विभागले गरिबीसम्बन्धी सूचकको हिसाब गर्दा प्रतिव्यक्ति वार्षिक १९ हजार २ सय ६१ रुपैयाँंभन्दा कम आम्दानीलाई गरिबीको रेखा मानेको छ। यसअनुसार दैनिक ५३ रुपैयाँंभन्दा कम आम्दानी हुने व्यक्ति गरिबीको रेखामुनि पर्छ।
अर्थविद केशव आचार्यका अनुसार राजनीतिक नेतृत्वले प्रदेशको उन्नति, जनजीविकाको विकास र विकास निर्माणभन्दा पनि आफ्नो राजनीतिक भविष्य सुरक्षित गर्नेतर्फ मात्र ध्यान दिँंदा प्रदेशहरुको आर्थिक भविष्य भने संकटमा पर्ने देखिएको हो।
केन्›ीय तथ्यांक विभागको लघु क्षेत्र गरिबी अनुमान प्रतिवेदनका अनुसार एक दशकअघि उच्च समृद्धि स्तरमा परेका २५ जिल्लामध्ये पर्सा, धनुषा, सप्तरी, सिरहा, बारा, रौतहट, मनाङ, मुस्ताङ, म्याग्दी, दोलखा र जुम्ला गरी ११ जिल्ला यो समूहबाट न्यून समृद्धि स्तरमा झरेका छन्।
२०५८ सालको प्रतिवेदनमा काठमाडौं प्रथम, भक्तपुर दोस्रो, ललितपुर तेस्रो, कास्की चौथो र चितवन पाँंचौं भएका थिए। एक दशकपछि २०६८ को प्रतिवेदनमा राजधानी काठमाडौंलाई उछिन्दै कास्की देशभरिकै कम गरिबी भएको जिल्ला हुन पुगेको थियो। बाजुरा सबैभन्दा न्यून समृद्धि स्तर भएको जिल्ला हो।
विभागले दोस्रोपटक विश्व बैंकको प्राविधिक सहयोगमा स्थानीय स्तरको गरिबी दर, गरिबीको विषमता र गहनताबारे अध्ययन गरी प्रतिवेदन तयार गरेको थियो।
गरिबीको दर मात्र नभएर यसको विषमता र गहनता पनि सबैभन्दा बढी प्रदेश नम्बर ६ मै देखिन्छ। प्रदेश नम्बर २ पनि त्यसभन्दा ज्यादै फरक छैन। गरिबीको विषमता भन्नाले गरिब–गरिबबीचको खाडल हो भने गरिबीको गहनता भन्नाले गरिबीको रेखादेखि तल्लो स्तरसम्मको गरिबी हो।
यस्तै, प्रदेश नम्बर ६ मा विविध प्राकृतिक स्रोत तथा साधन एवं पर्यटनको उच्च सम्भावना भए पनि यस प्रदेशका सबै जिल्ला राष्ट्रिय औसतभन्दा धेरै नै गरिब छन्। आचार्यका अनुसार प्रदेश नम्बर ६ मा सबै जातजाति गरिबीको चपेटामा छन्। आचार्यका अनुसार प्रदेश नम्बर २ मा भने दलित समुदाय बाहुल्यका कारण समग्र प्रदेश गरिबकिो चपेटामा देखिएको हो। पहाडी दलितभन्दा तराई–मधेसका दलितको स्थिति नाजुक रहेको उनको भनाइ छ।
लघुक्षेत्र गरिबी अनुमान प्रतिवेदनका अनुसार प्रदेश नम्बर ६ का बाजुरा (६४.१ प्रतिशत) का साथै कालिकोट (५८ प्रतिशत), बझाङ (५७ प्रतिशत), हुम्ला (५६ प्रतिशत), दार्चुला (५३ प्रतिशत) समृद्धिका तल्लो स्तरमा छन्।
प्रतिवेदनका अनुसार तराईमा सबैभन्दा गरिब जिल्ला सप्तरी हो। सप्तरीका बासिन्दामध्ये ३९.५ प्रतिशत गरिबीको रेखामुनि छन्। सप्तरी प्रदेश नम्बर २ मा समेटिएकामध्ये सबैभन्दा गरिब जिल्लामा पर्छ।