Promises Galore
The cover story on Budget 2007 (Package of Promises SPOTLIGHT July 20) was interesting to read. At a time when the country has been passing through a very critical political crisis, finance minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat has presented a very balanced budget for the country. His efforts to continue the process of liberalization is commendable. One can hope that this budget will implemented as promised by finance minister Dr. Mahat. For this, all the parties needs to support finance minister.
Smriti Gurung
Balaju
Ritualistic Budget
It is like a ritual to present the huge budget with big deficit (Package of Promises SPOTLIGHT July 20). Recently presented budget of coming fiscal year is no different than the past ones. Although only one objective of this interim government is to hold the elections for Constituent Assembly, finance minister Dr. Mahat's budget shows that this is a government elected for five years. If this government is for short period of tenure, it should have presented the budget for short period of time. I don't understand rationale behind presenting such a huge budget aiming to cover whole fiscal year. One cannot guarantee that the new government formed after the elections will continue to follow this budget.
Kalpana Sharma
Maitighar
Populist Budget
I agree with your analysis that this is a budget full of populist promises (Package of Promises SPOTLIGHT July 20). Nobody knows how government can generate internal revenue for these kinds of budget. Increasing of salary of civil servants will add burden to the government. Where the government gets all the money to fund the development activities is a serious question. This budget will have less money for the development programs and most of the budget will be consumed by civil servants as salaries.
Jamuna Pradhan
Pulchowk
Balanced Move
I would like to thank finance minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat in bringing out a very balanced budget in the critical hours like this when the government is dominated by all kinds of communist forces who do not believe in liberalization and market orientation (Package of Promises SPOTLIGHT July 20). He has been able to place the economy firmly on track of liberalization and reforms despite the pressures by other political parties represented in the government. One of the main challenges of the government will be to meet the ambitious target set for the revenue collection. In this critical hour, I hope, finance minister Dr. Mahat will be able to implement the budget to contribute something for New Nepal.
Ramesh Chettri
Via-email
Half-Hearted Conviction
The article on GPK's national reconciliation showed prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala's half hearted support for national reconciliation (Conviction or Compulsion SPOTLIGHT Jul 20). I agree with the article that GPK is last politician with the inner commitment to national reconciliation but nobody understands why this old man is surviving in power by engaging in such humiliating compromises. If prime minister Koirala is really abiding by his brother B.P. Koirala's national reconciliation, he must show his guts to speak the truth. He is quite aware that B.P. Koirala's national reconciliation never suggested to compromise with extremist communists to uproot monarchy. Although time has already gone out of hand, junior Koirala can still make a lot of difference if he decides to take certain risk in his political career.
Nirmal K.C
Birgunj via e-mail
Informative Interview
The interview of Junko Sazaki, country representative of UNFPA Nepal (SPOTLIGHT July 20) was very interesting and eye opener. She has made clear that if Nepal is to benefit from demographic bonus, this is a window of opportunity. At a time when foreigners like Sazaki working in Nepal are giving such positive remarks, Nepalese policy makers are yet to take any step towards it. I would like to request Spotlight bring more interesting interviews like that of Sazaki, which gives information about our country.
Phanindra Timsina
New Baneshwore Via-email
