कसको बजेट ?

गणतन्त्रका पाँच वर्षअघि र गणतन्त्रपछिको पाँच वर्षमा अर्थतन्त्रमा खासै परिवर्तन आएको छैन । नागरिकले आर्थिक विकासको अनुभूति गर्न तथा सुशासन एवं आफैंले छानेका प्रतिनिधिमार्फत शासन गर्दा मुलुकको आर्थिक विकास हुन्छ भन्ने आशा गरेका थिए । तर, गणतन्त्रका अघिल्ला पाँच वर्षमा औसत ४.५४ प्रतिशत आर्थिक वृद्धि भएकोमा गणतन्त्रपछिका पाँच वर्षमा पनि औसत ४.४ प्रतिशत नै आर्थिक वृद्धि भएको छ ।

संयोगले गणतन्त्र दिवसकै दिन हरेक वर्ष १५ जेठमा बजेट आउँछ । गणतन्त्रका पाँच वर्षमा नेपाली नागरिकले ६ वटा बजेट देखे । भलै कार्यान्वयनमा भने पाँचवटा मात्रै आएको छ । चालू आर्थिक वर्षको बजेट तत्कालीन अर्थमन्त्री विष्णु पौडेलले तथा वर्तमान अर्थमन्त्री जनार्दन शर्माले ल्याएका कारण ५ वटा बजेट भए पनि गणतन्त्रपछिका बजेट कार्यान्वयनको अवस्था हेर्दा गणतन्त्र अघिभन्दा तात्विक भिन्नता छैन । नागरिकमा परम्परागत राजनीतिक दलप्रति चुलिँदो अविश्वासको प्रमुख कारण पनि यही नै हो । नागरिकले महसुस हुने गरी परिवर्तनको अनुभव गर्न पाएका छैनन् । गणतन्त्रको लाभ पाउनबाट चुकेकै कारण पनि नागरिकमा निराशा छ, जुन स्थानीय तहको निर्वाचनको परिणामले पनि देखाएको छ । आइतबार संसद्को संयुक्त बैठकमा अर्थमन्त्री जनार्दन शर्माले दोस्रो बजेट ल्याए । तर, कसको लागि बजेट ल्याए त ?

पछिल्लो समय मुद्रास्फीति बढेका कारण मध्य आय भएका नागरिकका लागि बजेटमा विशेष केही नभएको वरिष्ठ अर्थविद् प्रा.डा. विश्वम्भर प्याकु¥याल बताउँछन् । सरकारले विश्वमा विविध कारणले बढेको महँगीलाई सरकारी कर्मचारीको तलब बढाएर सम्हाल्ने प्रयास त गरेको छ तर, यसले सामान्य नागरिकलाई असर गर्ने उनको तर्क छ । भारतमा पनि मूल्यवृद्धि भइरहेको तथा रुस तथा युक्रेन युद्धका कारण विश्व आपूर्ति शृंखलामा नकारात्मक असर पनि परेका कारण मूल्यवृद्धि ६ प्रतिशतभित्रै राख्न सरकारलाई कठिन भएको उनको विचार छ ।

सरकारी कर्मचारीको तलब १५ प्रतिशतले बढेका कारण मूल्यवृद्धिलाई त्यसले ढाडस हुने अर्थविद् नरबहादुर थापा बताउँछन् । साथै सरकारले व्यक्ति वा परिवारको आधारभूत जीवन निर्वाह लागतलाई दृष्टिगत गर्दै प्राकृतिक व्यक्ति तथा दम्पत्तिलाई आयकर ऐन, २०५८ ले प्रदान गरेका आयकर छुटको सीमालाई वृद्धि गरी प्राकृतिक व्यक्तिको हकमा ५ लाख र दम्पत्तिको हकमा ६ लाख पु¥याएका कारण पनि मध्यम वर्गीयको जीवन सहज हुने उनको अनुमान छ ।

तर, महँगीलाई तह लगाउन आपूर्ति व्यवस्था सहज बनाउने र निगरानी गर्नुपर्नेमा थापा पनि सहमत छन् । नेपालमा प्रतिवर्ष प्रतिव्यक्ति ६० हजारभन्दा कम आय भएका नेपाली निम्न आय वर्गमा पर्छन् । जसको जनसंख्या कूल जनसंख्याको १८ प्रतिशत अर्थात् ५३ लाख छ ।

यस्तै, प्रतिवर्ष प्रतिव्यक्ति ६० हजारभन्दा बढी र ३ लाख २ हजारसम्म आय भएका नेपालीलाई मध्यमवर्गीय नेपाली मानिएको छ । जसमा ४२ प्रतिशत जनसंख्या पर्दछन् । अर्थात् नेपालमा मध्यमवर्गीयको जनसंख्या १ करोड २२ लाख छ । त्यसपछि ३ लाख ३ हजारभन्दा माथि प्रतिवर्ष प्रतिव्यक्ति आय हुने नेपालीलाई सरकारले उच्च आय वर्गमा वर्गीकरण गरेको छ । जसमा ४० प्रतिशत अर्थात् १ करोड १७ लाख जनसंख्या पर्छन् । 

महँगीले निश्चित आय भएका मध्यम वर्गीय १ करोड २२ लाख नेपाली मर्माहत हुँदा बजेटले झन् पीडित बनाएको छ । साथै, स्रोत संकुचन भएका बेला आएको बजेटले सामाजिक सुरक्षामा प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्दै सरकारको दायित्व भने बढाएको छ । राजनीतिक दल तथा सरकारले कसले देशमा बढी दिगो र छिटो विकास गर्ने, गरिबी घटाउने भन्ने प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्नुपर्नेमा कसले कम उमेरमा वृद्धभत्ता दिने भन्ने प्रतिस्पर्धा हँुदै गएको छ । त्यसैले स्रोतको दबाबका बीच सरकारले एकातिर आयकरको सीमा पनि बढाएको छ भने अर्कोतिर वृद्ध भत्ता पाउने उमेरलाई ७० वर्षबाट घटाएर ६८ वर्ष बनाएको छ ।  

वित्तीय समानीकरण अनुदान

प्रदेश : ६१ अर्ब ४३ करोड

स्थानीय तह : १ खर्ब २३ करोड

सशर्त अनुदान

प्रदेश : ५७ अर्ब १ ७ करोड

स्थानीय तह : १ खर्ब ८३ करोड

समपूरक अनुदान

प्रदेश : ६ अर्ब ३० करोड

स्थानीय तह : ७ अर्ब २७ करोड

विशेष अनुदान

प्रदेश : ४ अर्ब ५६ करोड

स्थानीय तह : ९ अर्ब १४

राजस्व बाँडफाँट

१६३ अर्ब ३ करोड

भारतले रोक्यो चिनी निर्यात

भारत सरकारले चिनी निर्यातमा रोक लगाएको छ । यसअघि गहुँ निर्यातमा रोक लगाएको भारत सरकारले जुन १ अर्थात बुधबारदेखि चिनी निर्यातमा समेत रोक लगाएको हो ।

भारत सरकारले चिनी निर्यातमा रोक लगाए पनि नेपालमा अभाव नहुने व्यवसायीहरुले बताएका छन् ।

चिनी उत्पादन संघले नेपालका उद्योगी तथा व्यवसायीसँग पर्याप्त मात्रामा चिनीको मौज्दात रहेको भन्दै तत्काल अभाव नहुने जनाएको हो ।

संघका अध्यक्ष शशीकान्त अग्रवाल नेपालका उद्योगसँग हाल पर्याप्त मात्रामा चिनीको मौज्दात रहेको भन्दै अभाव नहुने बताउँछन् ।

उनका अनुुसार नेपालमा वार्षिक २ लाख ७५ हजार मेट्रिक टन चिनीको माग रहेकोमा आधा नेपालकै उत्पादनले पुग्दै आएको छ । नेपालमा १० वटा चिनी उद्योगले चिनी उत्पादन गर्दै आएका छन् ।

स्वदेशी उद्योगले मात्रै वार्षिक १ लाख ३० हजार मेट्रिकटन चिनी उत्पादन गर्ने भन्दै भारतले निर्यातामा रोक लगाउँदा नेपालमा खासै असर नपर्ने उनको भनाई छ ।

संघको तथ्यांक अनुसार चालु आर्थिक वर्षमा मात्रै नेपालका चिनी उद्योगले ३ लाख २१ हजार मेट्रिक टन चिनी उत्पादन गरेका छन् । स्वदेशी चिनी उत्पादन सँगै चालु आर्थिक वर्षको दश महिनामा नेपालले विभिन्न देशबाट ४ अर्ब ८३ करोड रुपैयाँ बढीको चिनी आयात गरेको छ ।

उत्पादनसँगै आयातीत चिनीको परिमाणमा समेत बृद्धि हुँदा अभाव नहुने व्यवसायीहरुको भनाई छ । नेपालले चालु आर्थिक वर्षको दश महिनाको अवधिमा भारतबाट मात्रै साढे २५ करोड ६५ लाख ३६ हजार रुपैयाँ बराबरको ७६ लाख ९ हजार किलो चिनीको आयात गरेको हो ।

सरकारी कम्पनीसँग छैन चिनी

सरकारी लगानीमा सञ्चालित खाद्य व्यवस्था तथा व्यापार कम्पनी लिमिटेड र साल्ट ट्रेडिङ कर्पाेरेशनले चिनीको मौज्दात नरहेको जनाएको छ । साल्ट ट्रेडिङ कर्पाेरेशनले बिक्री वितरण गर्दै आएको चिनी लामो समयदेखि बिक्री बन्द भएको जनाएकोे छ ।

‘सरकारले ५० प्रतिशत भन्सार छुटमा चिनी आयातको अनुमति नदिएपछि चिनीको बिक्री वितरण गरेका छैनौँ, स्टक हुँदासम्म वितरण गरिएको थियो, अहिले स्टक सकिएपछि लामो समयदेखि चिनी विक्री नै बन्द छ’, कर्पाेरेशनका एक कर्मचारीले भने ।

चाडपर्वका लागि चिनीको आयात गर्दै आएको खाद्य कम्पनीले समेत चिनीको बिक्री वितरण बन्द गरेको छ ।

उद्योग, वाणिज्य तथा आपूर्ति मन्त्रालयले भारत सरकारले चिनी निर्यातमा रोक लगाउँदा त्यसको असर नेपाली बजारमा देखिने जनाएको छ । मन्त्रालयका प्रवक्ता डा नारायण रेग्मी हाल पर्याप्त असर नदेखिएपनि निर्यातमा लामो समय रोक लगाउँदा असर देखिन सक्ने बताउँछन् ।

‘अहिले नेपाली चिनी उद्योगसँग पर्याप्त मौज्दात छ, तत्काल अभाव वा असर देखिदैन, तर भारतले लामो समयसम्म निर्यातमा रोक लगायो भने त्यसको केही असर पर्न सक्ने हाम्रो अनुमान छ’, उनले भने ।

भारतीय सञ्चार माध्यमले मोदी सरकारले चिनी निर्यातमा पूर्ण रोक नलगाए पनि निर्यात सीमा एक करोड टन राखेको जनाएका छन् । चिनी निर्यातमा भारत विश्वको दोस्रो ठूलो देश हो । विश्वमा ब्राजिलले सबैभन्दा धेरै चिनी निर्यात गर्छ ।

भारतबाट सबैभन्दा धेरै चिनी इन्डोनेसिया, अफगानिस्तान, श्रीलंका, बंगलादेश, संयुक्त अरब इमिरेट्स, मलेसिया र अफ्रिकी देशले खरिद गर्दै आएका छन् ।

भारतमा उपभोक्ता मुद्रास्फिती बढेर ७.७९ प्रतिशत पुगेपछि सरकारले गहुँ र चिनी निर्यातमा अल्पकालीन रोक लगाएको हो । भारत सरकारले मुलुकभित्र बढ्दो खाद्य सुरक्षा र महँगीलाई ध्यानमा राख्दै निर्यातमा रोक लगाउने निर्णय गरेको हो ।

पछिल्लो समय विभिन्न देशमा रुस र युक्रेनबीचको युद्धका कारण विभिन्न वस्तुको मूल्य बढेको छ । हालसालै सार्वजनिक तथ्यांकका अनुसार भारतमा इन्धन र खाद्यान्नको उच्च मूल्यका कारण अप्रिलमा उपभोक्ता मुद्रास्फीति ८ वर्षकै उच्चमा पुगेको देखाएको छ ।

National Food Laboratory at Raxaul facilitates testing of Nepali products

The National Food Laboratory (NFL) inaugurated today in Raxaul of Bihar state of India on the Nepal-India border is expected to facilitate testing of Nepali foods products.

Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India Dr Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the lab, in the presence of minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mahendra Rai Yadav, confirmed a press note issued by the Indian Embassy.

The lab at Raxaul, established by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is a modern facility equipped with advanced facilities and infrastructure for testing of food samples entering India, the press note reads, adding that it will support enhanced bilateral trade between India and Nepal by reducing the time taken for testing samples of food and agricultural exports of Nepal which currently need to be sent to Delhi or Kolkata for testing. “The creation of an upgraded laboratory at Raxaul was a longstanding request of Nepal’s exporters which now stands fulfilled.”

The NFL is yet another reflection of India’s commitment to improve connectivity, trade and border infrastructure with Nepal as part of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, the press note adds.

Tourism promotion in New York

 The Consulate General of Nepal in New York hosted a tourism promotion event ‘Nepal-The Wonderland of Natural, Cultural and Spiritual Beauty’ in collaboration with the Pacific Asia Travel Association, New York Chapter in New York.

The programme, which coincided with the celebration week of 75th anniversary of the establishment of Nepal-US diplomatic relations, provided an opportunity to the Consulate to work in collaboration with the professional tourism body to showcase the importance of tourism connectivity between Nepal and USA and promote Nepal's tourism in New York. 

According to a press note issued by the Nepali Embassy in New York, the programme gave a platform to showcase Nepal's tourism potential and major attractions.

In his inaugural remarks, the acting Consul General Bishnu Gautam, welcoming the invitees, highlighted the major tourism features and attractions of Nepal, recently added tourism infrastructure, facilities and new travel facilitation measures taken by Nepal. He appealed the guests and the airliners, travel and tour business community to visit Nepal and also to keep Nepal in their preferred travel destination.

Regional Director of US State Department of Office of Foreign Missions, Regional Office New York Jeannatte M Juricic joined the event in solidarity to promote Nepal-US ties and tourism connectivity, the Embassy informed.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, ambassador Amrit Bahadur Rai, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN in New York, shared Nepal's perspective on international tourism and the unique potentialities of Nepal to become an international tourism hub of adventure tourism, recreation, cultural and spiritual learning and yoga and meditation, among others. He urged the guests to visit Nepal as Nepal is back to normal for tourism and other business.

A video message from the chief executive officer of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) addressed the US friends, travel and tour business communities and travellers of the programme, was played at the programme. The message highlighted major touristic attractions of Nepal, Nepal's best response to tourists during Covid-19 pandemic and appealed the travellers to choose Nepal as their preferred destination.

President of Pacific Asia Travel Association New York Chapter Joebert Opulencia, on the occasion, highlighted travel and tourism potential in Asia-Pacific region and the need to work together for collective promotion of that region.

The event was held as a part of Consulate's efforts to convey a message that after pandemic Nepal is re-open for travel and tourism and Nepal is eager to welcoming US tourists in Nepal, the press note reads.

The guest speakers of the programme, many of them frequent travellers of Nepal, spoke prominently about their memorable experience in Nepal. A writer and a 14 times visitor of Nepal since 1974 and chief executive officer of Sir Edmund Hillary Medal Project Dr Seth Sicroff and British-American Mountaineer, Mt Everest Summiteer, and holder of Guinness World Record including on the first woman to reach earth's highest and deepest points on earth (Mt Everest and Challenger deep) Vanessa O' Brien shared their experience in Nepal, and what keeps them attracting to Nepal.

Other speakers Mt Everest Summiteer and president of US-Nepal Climbers Association Passang Nima Sherpa and president, NRN-New York Chapter Aang Tshiring Sherpa also shared their respective views, or solidarity with the Nepal's efforts to promote tourism.

Vice Consul of the Consulate Sangita Neupane made presentation on ‘Destination Nepal’, while director of Asian American Business Affairs at Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, and founder of Global Medical Tourism and Wellness Centre, Nepal Amit Pratap Shah made a brief presentation on opportunities on Medical Tourism and Wellness Yoga in Nepal. Similarly, Qatar Airlines and Turkish Airlines representatives also made presentations on their efforts to promote international tourism and connectivity between Nepal and the United States. Nepali artistes in New York also performed a Nepali cultural dance.

The programme was moderated by chief executive officer of TV Sunday and TV Journalist Kiran Marahatta. Officials from the Consulate General, PATA-New York Chapter Board Members, Travel and Tour Business community members and media persons were among the participants of the programme.

Nepal urges Malaysia to increase minimum wage of Nepali migrant workers

 Nepal has asked Malaysia to increase minimum wage of Nepali workers in Malaysia.

During the meeting with minister for Home Affairs of Malaysia Hamzah Zainuddin, the visiting Nepali minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Krishna Kumar Shrestha urged to increase minimum wage, service and facility of Nepali workers including security guards in Malaysia.

He also asked the Malaysian minister to increase the monthly salary of Nepali security guards to 3,000 Malaysian ringgit.

They held discussion on a gamut of issues including providing more employment opportunities to Nepali workers by making arrangements of security guard-related training in Nepal and making zero-cost principle effective. They also discussed on making improved arrangements of health, social security and 24-hour insurance facilities, according to a press note issued by the Nepali Embassy in Malaysia.

Industries warn of protest programme against power utility

 The unscheduled power cut has infuriated the industrialists, forcing them to announce the protest against the power monopoly.

They also warned to lock up Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) office, if the authority could not supply uninterrupted electricity to the industries along Sunsari-Morang Industrial corridor by Tuesday. “The NEA has disrupted power supply to the industrial area for more than 12 hours daily for the past few days without any notice,” they said at a joint press conference today,

Morang Merchant Association, Industry Association and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI)-Province 1, jointly organising a press meet, said that the industries along the Sunsari-Morang corridor have to be shut down as the power supply has been down for almost 24 hours since Wednesday.

“The industries have suffered huge losses due to unannounced power cuts,” President of Morang Merchant Association Nabin Rijal said, adding that the goods in the machine and in godown have become useless due to  unannounced load shedding. “If the government does not solve the problem by Tuesday, We will be forced to padlock NEA on Wednesday, and announce additional agitation programmes from Thursday onwards.

The industrialists have also demanded to publish the load-shedding schedule, exploit maximum potential of domestic power generation capacity, ensure equitable distribution of electricity, abolish demand charges and find a solution through diplomatic initiatives with India.

At least 500 industries along the Sunsari-Morang corridor have been hit hard due to the unscheduled power cut.

The NEA has been buying 300 MW electricity from India to match the domestic demand. But the demand of electricity has increased in India recently making the import of electricity expensive, which has forced the NEA to impose power cut in the industries. However, the industrialists along the Sunsari-Morang corridor have been asking the NEA to publish the schedule of power outage so that they can plan the operation of the industries. But the authority neither is able to import the electricity from India nor publishing the load-shedding schedule forcing the industries to go for protest programme. The industries hit by the Covid-19 since last two years were trying to operate as usual in full capacity like in the days prior to the pandemic.

Melamchi resumes water supply to Kathmandu from today

Melamchi Project has resumed to pump water to the Kathmandu Valley from today.

The supply of water from Melamchi River in Sindhupalchowk to the Kathmandu Valley was disrupted after major floods and landslides in Sindhupalchowk some 10 months ago.

Minister for Water Supply Umakanta Chaudhary inaugurated the distribution of drinking water from the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Ltd (KUKL) branch office at New Baneshwar.

The mega project funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) that promised to quench the thirst of Kathmandu Valley was damaged by the devastating flood on 15 June, 2021. The flood damaged head works of the project obstructing the water supply that was just started few weeks ago. 

The water distribution in the Kathmandu Valley has resumed today after the reconstruction of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, the KUKL confirmed.

Minister Chaudhary had started the transfer of water from the head works of the project to the tunnel on April 12. Then, the water was purified at a treatment plant in Sundarijal before sending to 10 reservoir tanks of KUKL.

From today, the drinking water is being distributed to the Valley houses through pipes. But the water supply could be again halted when the rainy season starts, though the KUKL has claimed to have prepared the alternative to supply the drinking water. However, it seems a far fetched idea.

The Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) have targeted to distribute some 270 million liters of water on a daily basis. Of the amount, some 100 million liters will be supplied through the distribution mechanism of the KUKL, while the rest of 170 million liters will be supplied from MWSP.

Front today, the households connected to the water pipeline system in all the locations inside the Ring Road area will receive the water supplied jointly by the MWSP and the KUKL. Likewise, the water is supplied also to the locals of Kirtipur and Madhyapur, Bhaktapur from today.