Kathmandu, May 19
President Ram Chandra Paudel, on behalf of the government of Nepal, on Friday presented the annual policy and programme for the next fiscal year 2023/24.
In his nearly two-hour address to the joint meeting of two houses of the federal parliament, the president, like in the past years, spelt out dozens of promises in the form of the government’s policy and programme.
Some of the announcements such as letting migrant workers vote look ambitious whereas many announcements such as restoring old factories look repeated from previous years.
Following the same annual policy and programme, the government will table the budget plan for the next fiscal year on May 29.
Here are some of the key promises made by the president today.
1. Regulation of microfinance companies and cooperatives
Owing to the reports of fraud at microfinance companies, the government has announced to make the regulation of microfinance companies better and more effective. Likewise, the government has also prioritised expanding banking facilities.
Likewise, owing to reports of fraud, the regulation of cooperatives will also go stricter to secure deposits from the public.
2. Priorities of international aid
The government says it will make efforts to concentrate international aid on bigger development projects. In particular, transformational projects and those of national pride will be priorities.
Likewise, foreign investment will also be encouraged in productive and export-oriented sectors.
3. Restarting factories
The president says the government will restore various factories from different industries that have been shut for years. In particular, the annual policy and programme mentions Hetauda Kapada Udyog, Butwal Dhago Karkhana and Gorakhkali Tyre Udyog as the priorities for restoration.
Likewise, industries in which Nepal can be independent will be identified and will be given priority.
4. Branding of Nepali products
The government in its annual policy and programme for the next fiscal year says it will make efforts for the branding of selected Nepali products in the international market. The products will include lenses produced by the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology and drinking water from mountainous regions.
5. Focus on electric vehicles
The government will promote the use of electric vehicles in the next fiscal year. Likewise, the production of such vehicles will be encouraged within the country. Government offices will be encouraged for the purchase of electric vehicles.
Nonetheless, the government has also announced to upgrade petroleum distribution systems.
6. New mountain peaks for climbing
The government has announced a plan to open additional new mountain peaks for climbing. Likewise, Nepal will be developed as a hub of films as the government has also prioritised film tourism.
7. Nijgadh airport plan
Despite the consistent controversy, the government in the annual policy and programme for the next fiscal year says it will resume the construction of the Nijgadh international airport in the next fiscal year. Several signature bridges will be constructed on national highways.
8. Regulation of ride-sharing
Meanwhile, the government has announced that it will bring ride-sharing activities within the ambit of laws. Although ride-sharing has been popular in urban areas of Nepal, there has not been a rule to regulate the sector yet.
9. Relocation of landless squatters
The annual policy and programme has announced that it will relocate landless squatters occupying riverbanks in the Kathmandu valley and other areas to other alternative places and conserve the land. This was one of the key concerns raised by Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah of late.
10. Electricity for all in the next 2 years
The government has announced that all households in the country will have access to electricity within the next two years. Various facilities and subsidies will be provided to poor households to let them access electricity.
Meanwhile, the government has also announced to encourage the use of electricity in cooking. Households using up to 30 units of electricity in winter months and those using up to 50 units in summer months will be provided with electricity for free.
11. No plastic campaign
The government has repeatedly failed in implementing multiple announcements to ban the use of plastic bags. Yet, the annual policy and programme for the new fiscal year repeats the promise.
Likewise, the government has announced to carry out various programmes and activities for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
As per the announcement, three tiers of the government will coordinate with each other for disaster management.
12. Restructuring of universities and colleges
The government’s annual policy and programme says it will restructure universities and colleges by merging and splitting the institutions as per necessity. Colleges of the same province will be brought under one university as far as possible.
13. Merger of Nepal Television and Radio Nepal
The government has announced a plan to merge two state-owned broadcasters Nepal Television and Radio Nepal to establish a public broadcasting institution.
14. Voting rights for migrant workers
In an ambitious announcement, the government’s annual policy and programme says it will provide voting rights to Nepali migrant workers abroad. Stakeholders have long been demanding this, but the government has never introduced any provision.
15. Property investigation against high-ranking officials
Amid praises that the government is seriously investigating the fake Bhutanese refugee scam, the government has made a populist and ambitious announcement that it will launch investigations of the property owned by former and current politicians and bureaucrats holding public offices in recent years.
16. Upgrading cricket grounds
The annual policy and programme promises upgrading the two cricket stadiums in Kirtipur and Mulpani of Kathmandu to international standards within the next two years.
