KATHMANDU, MARCH 16
In light of the government's preparation of a law to provide lifetime benefits to former high-ranking state officials, the public and lawmakers have vehemently opposed the plan, calling it a waste of taxpayer money, especially given that remittances sent by migrant Nepali workers account for a large portion of the country's revenue.
A few days ago, following a proposal by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, the Cabinet agreed to draft a law granting lifetime monthly allowances, housing rent and maintenance expenses, vehicles, secretarial staff, and other benefits to former Presidents, Vice Presidents, Prime Ministers, Chairs of the Council of Ministers, Speakers, and Chairs of the National Assembly.
People have suggested that the government should prioritise addressing the country's larger issues, such as unemployment, inflation, and poverty, rather than providing additional financial assistance to political elites. Some lawmakers have also expressed concerns, describing the move as an unnecessary strain on the state's limited resources.
According to reports, the proposal calls for former high-ranking state officials to receive lifetime monthly allowances, housing, vehicles, fuel expenses, helpers, secretaries, and other benefits. However, these officials already receive these benefits. As per reports, if law passed, officials already receiving security, vehicles, fuel, medical expenses, and living allowances would make these benefits permanent.
Meanwhile, lawmakers, speaking during the emergency time at today's Lower House meeting, slammed the issue, claiming that a draft law was being prepared to provide life-long benefits to former distinguished office holders. According to them, a desire to provide ex-VVIPs with lifelong allowances, housing, personal vehicles, employees, and personal secretaries undermines the federal democratic republican constitution.
Talking to THT, Janamat Party President CK Raut said, "This is not what political parties should do. Bringing such a law would only exacerbate the country's economic problems.
Prakash Sharan Mahat, a Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker and former finance minister, told reporters that the media had spread misinformation about the proposed law.
"We would rather reduce benefits than increase," he stated. "Our country is not in a position to bear the brunt of the external economic burden."
Another NC lawmaker, Ram Krishna Yadav, stated that it was inappropriate to provide lifetime benefits to former VIPs at a time when the country's economy was struggling.
"The country is going through a difficult economic period. Thus, providing lifetime benefits to former distinguished officials such as presidents, prime ministers, speakers, national assembly chairpersons, constituent assembly chairpersons, and council of ministers chairs is absurd."
"It should not be mentioned in the context of the country's poor economic situation, people not receiving even basic medical care, and youth exodus to foreign countries due to unemployment at home."
Devendra Paudel, a CPN-MC legislator, expressed dissatisfaction over the proposal to provide service facilities to the former distinguished office-bearers at a time when the country's economy is weak. "The government should instead provide relief to the people," he said.
CPN (US) lawmaker Prakash Jwala also stated that former distinguished office-bearers should not be given facilities that would require the state to bear additional financial burdens while the country's economy deteriorated.
