NPC announces implementation of Tenth Five Year Plan
Poverty reduction priority: Dr. Sharma

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Dec 17: The National Planning Commission (NPC) today formally announced the operationalization of the Tenth Five Year (2059-2064).

The Tenth Five Year Plan has been in operation since the beginning of the running fiscal year (2059-2060) on July 17 with the prime objective of achieving the economic growth in between 4.3 and 6.2 per cent. The Tenth Plan has set a target to narrow down the poverty to 30 per cent from 38 per cent in the next five years.

The volume of the budget as per the current price is expected to be Rs 490- 640 billion.

The NPC has set a target to achieve the growth rate between 2.8 per cent and 4.1 per cent in agriculture sector and 5.2 to 7.5 in non-agricultural sector.

Declaring the formal operationalisation of the Tenth Plan at Singhadurbar vice chairman of the NPC, Dr. Shankar Sharma reiterated that the plan is based on the reality and the targets have been set on the basis of existing macro economic framework.

"The features of the Tenth Plan is different from the previous period plans and it is more pragmatic too," said Dr. Sharma adding " We have introduced a number of new mechanisms to make the plan a success and more pragmatic." He said that the plan is focused on poverty alleviation by achieving the targeted economic growth. If the security situation improves, he indicated that possibility of achieving economic growth at six per cent, but the growth will be "around four per cent if the situation as it is."
Highlighting the main features of the plan, Dr. Sharma said that the plan is complementary to the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and is based on Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) prepared by the meeting of the National Development Council.

He further said that the plan has introduced participatory approach with active participation of the private sector. He also clarified that the plan this time has introduced log framework system on the basis of unit cost analysis.

Dr. Sharma further said that the budgetary allocation would be done after expenditure tracking. On top of that poverty monitoring will be carried out each year, he said.

In response to queries about the urgency of implementing the Tenth Plan, despite mounting pressure for the Plan holiday, he said, " It is quite essential to give continuity to the development activities."
Donors and our development partners also showed their interests for the implementation of the plan, he added.

NPC member Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that the plan would be focused and implementation. Regarding the objective of attaining 4.3 to 6.2 percent economic growth, he said that it has been set taking the existing macro economic indicators into consideration. " Macro economic indicators were below the expected level," he said.

He also mentioned that the Tenth Plan has set a target of mobilizing 68-72 per cent investment from the private sector. The plan has accorded importance on private sector participation.

The meeting held at the NPC decided to submit the Tenth Plan to the cabinet for the approval.

Features of the Tenth Plan

* It aims to bring down the poverty to 30 per cent from 38 per cent.
* It aims to achieve economic growth between 4.3 and 6.2 per cent
* Foreign resource component 57 to 58 per cent.
* Development Expenditure (growth rate) - 10 to 15 per cent.
* Foreign Assistance (growth rate) - 7-11 per cent
* Total Investment - Rs 490-640 billion
* Participatory approach
* Log Frame Result oriented
· Prioritisation

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