Pragmatic budget

New fiscal year is about to begin, for which the Finance Ministry and the National Planning Commission will have to join hands to come up with a pragmatic budget. Most of the proposals outlined last year were largely confined to paper alone. It is true that Nepal is tiding over difficult times and security budget is likely to dwarf allocations which will be made for other sectors. But with it lies the imperative to carry out development work without which economic growth would be further scaled down. Nepal has rarely, if ever, met its development goals and with insecurity, political quandary and on-going violence tearing the country apart, it is difficult to deliver on the budgetary promises. The planners must know that development activity is central to keep the economy afloat, no matter how difficult the circumstances. Commerce is absolutely vital and the current spate of taxes and price hikes have not helped the people though it might have added to the revenue collection. Making business transactions transparent, expanding tax net, addressing consumer woes, anti-graft drives and a balanced approach to strengthen education and other sectors will serve the purpose to some extent. But all such promises so far have remained half-hearted enterprises. When the finance minister announces the new budget, he must take care that it is different from the monotonous plans, policies and assumptions that seldom see the light of the day.

Pratibha Kafley, via e-mail