Kathmandu, June 9
The Ministry of Urban Development has proposed cutting down allowances given to VIPs for the purchase of household goods.
If the Council of Ministers approves the ministry’s proposal, the costs incurred in making purchases for VIPs will come down by half. The Building Maintenance Division under the ministry has prepared a draft directive to this effect.
As of now, there’s no legal provision governing facilities and allowances for VIPs.
Onlinekhabar had reported recently that these select few people demand expensive and branded goods instead of making do with goods that authorities supply. The draft has proposed providing 70 kinds of goods to these people.
Most of the ministers take these things with them while leaving the government-provided quarters after losing their jobs.
As of now, the ministry has floated directives governing services and facilities for VIPs three times. These drafts have been gathering dust at the Cabinet.
Once more, the ministry has forwarded a similar directive to the Cabinet. The draft is stuck on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s table, a source informed.
The new directive has put the beneficiaries of state largesse in three categories — first, second and third. The first category comprises president, vice-president, speaker and chief justice.
Contrary to prevailing practice, they will get household goods in specified quantities only and within certain price ranges. As of now, these people can seek supplies as per their own free will. The second class comprises deputy prime ministers, whereas the third category comprises assistant ministers, among others.
