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Govt for all-party consultation on new budget

The government has said the budget for the new fiscal year will be finalized after consultations with coalition partners and the Maoists and has asked the donors including the World Bank to increase prompt and flexible support to Nepal during the transitional period.

Speaking at a discussion programme on new budget organised by Management Development Centre of Nepal Management Association in the capital on Monday, Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat informed that the budget would be brought after discussion with the constituents of the seven-party alliance and the Maoists.

Urging the international community for more support to Nepal, Mahat said, "I request the international community and the donors to provide some immediate budgetary assistance based on goodwill and positive attitude towards Nepal."

“Though the international community supported and taken the recent political changes in Nepal positively, they are in the stage of 'wait and see' for providing financial assistance," he added.

Presenting the outline of the new budget, Mahat said it would give emphasis on poverty reduction, development activities in the rural areas and improving the lives of people from backward communities. He further said a portion of the budget would be allocated for decommissioning and rehabilitation of the Maoist army.

Country Director of the World Bank Ken Ohashi said that the Nepal government should identify the areas of its priority and allocate the budget accordingly.

"Unless the government quickly begins to take credible steps toward making the New Nepal a reality, and gives the people a sense of direction, this special moment will pass," Ohashi maintained.

He further said, "The critical ingredient that has been missing in the pursuit of a national vision is a credible state. The state has been more often than not a source of patronage to the privileged few and an instrument of suppression and exploitation for the rest. Jana Andolan II was both about a new vision and about a demand for a new state to make that vision a reality. Such a state must work in partnership with the people."

Ohashi also urged the government to convey the message to the people that the present state of Nepal cannot deliver all services and meet all demands at a time as it runs through critical political transition. "Credible first step is the most important thing this budget can achieve. Whether the New Nepal becomes a reality will depend on it," he added.

Speaking at the same program, former vice chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Shankar Sharma asked the Maoists to support efforts of the government for rural development. He said additional Rs 25 billion could be mobilized to them if they stop obstruction in development activities. nepalnews.com ia July 04 06