Interaction programme on budget organised

Nepalgunj, July 10 (RSS): The speakers at an interaction programme on the budget of the fiscal year 057/ 58 B.S. in the context of economic development pointed out the increasing dependability on foreign aid and grant assistance, lack of concrete programmes for poverty alleviation and lack of solid basis for the revenue collection as shortcomings of the budget.

At the programme organised jointly by the economics department of the Mahendra Multiple Campus, Nepalgunj and the Economic Opinion Forum, they stressed the need to resolve the problems of corruption and Maoist insurgency.

Presenting a working paper, programme incharge Dr. Ram Lochan Singh opined that the dependability on foreign grant has increased and there is no certainty of it being received.

From the chair, Banke DDC chairman Om Prakash Jung Rana complained that there was less budget for the mid-western development region.

Reader Devendra Mishra called for closure of free movement across the border and stress on agriculture.

Campus Chief Karna Bahadur Thapa said the special programmes for the Karnali Zones are laudable steps.

Lecturer Bhairav Bahadur Bista said there will be no equitability in increase of the salaries of the employees if the prices are not controlled.

At the function presided over by campus chief Dr. Gopal Prasad Sharma Adhikari, various other speakers including Banke district Value Added Tax office chief Amrit Kayastha, reader Chola Raj Sharma and lecturer Ram Khelawan Shaha also expressed their views.