If the unauthorised persons' entry into the FM is true, Sharma should be sacked from his office
The main opposition, CPN-UML, obstructed the House proceeding the other day over Finance Minister Janardan Sharma's alleged hiring of unauthorised persons to manipulate tax rates, a day before presenting the fiscal budget in the joint session of the federal parliament on May 29. The news of two unauthorised persons entering the Finance Ministry on the night of May 28 came to the light after a daily exposed it a few days ago.
The daily claimed that two persons, one of them is said to be a non-gazetted retired officer, entered the Finance Ministry and manipulated the tax rates, sidelining the high-ranking ministry officials, who were working out on the taxation in tight secret, as per the rules. Speaking in the House of Representatives, UML Chief Whip Bishal Bhattarai demanded a parliamentary panel to investigate the entry of the unauthorised persons in the ministry when the tax rates were being worked out secretly. Bhattarai alleged that the unauthorised persons changed the tax rates to benefit select business houses. The hike in customs duty for imported electric vehicles is one such example of manipulation in the taxation and the fiscal budget. How can the government promote e-vehicles to use electricity generated within the county when the Finance Ministry increases customs duty on electric vehicles? Bhattarai also demanded that the CCTV footage of May 28 be produced before the parliamentary committee.
Pressure is mounting on the Finance Minister and, also on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba from within the ruling coalition over the issue, which, many said, was a serious offence and betrayal to the nation. Even CPN-MC chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal is learnt to have suggested Sharma step down on moral ground. PM Deuba should also be held responsible for the alleged tax manipulation by the unauthorised persons in the budget. Taxation is very sensitive issue, like any other national security concerns and national interest. Breaching of such secrets is considered a serious crime and it should be thoroughly investigated by a parliamentary committee. The Finance Minister waived customs duty almost by 90 per cent on imported sanitary pads while increasing customs duty on raw materials used in Nepal to produce the pads.
Although the Sharma dismissed the alleged manipulation on tax rates, opposition lawmakers were not convinced with his assertions. It may be recalled that then finance minister Ram Sharan Mahat had to quit after he was found to have committed a mistake as a finance minister. A finance minister, who is supposed to steer the country's economy through robust taxation system, should not come under any influence from any quarters while making adjustments in tax rates and customs duty. If the unauthorised persons' entry into the Finance Ministry is true, Sharma should not only be sacked from his office, but also should face punitive action for breaching the established rules and tradition.
Child labour
It seems that the child labour is here to stay for a long time, as this year too on the World Day Against Child Labour, the experts said the prospects of reducing child labour and meeting the government's aim to eliminate this practice in Nepal is still grim. According to the International Labour Organisation, Nepal still accounts for over 1.1 million children between (5-17 years) in child labour. Of these 222,493 are estimated to be engaged in hazardous work. The agriculture sector accounts for more than 85 per cent of the total child labour in Nepal.
Since there exists hardly any form of alternative employment opportunities for the poor parents of these children, the families are compelled to send their kids to factories for hazardous works. Given the harsh realities facing the children, who are often called the 'pillars of the nation,' only long-term and concerted efforts geared to their welfare can eliminate child labour. This requires bringing appropriate changes in the living conditions of the village folks, as causes of socio-economic hardships often lay in the very structure of the society. The government agencies and all organisations involved in protection of child rights should waste no time to end child labour.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 16, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
