UML urges govt. to double VDC grant

The CPM-UML has urged the government to double the budget amount for the village development committees in upcoming budget 2007/08 (VDCs) to stir up development activities.

Organising a press conference on Tuesday, at the party central office in Balkhu, UML made public its recommendations for the upcoming budget officially.

Addressing the same conference, UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari said that the budget for the VDCs must be increased to two million rupees from the current one million.

"The rural areas were the most affected areas during the conflict and to give them their share of justice they must be allocated double the budget, which could expedite development activities," Adhikari said.

Recommending the government to make the budget inclusive, Adhikari said that the annual budget should announce special programmes for marginalised community, freed kamaiyas, women, Dalits, Madhesis, and landless squatters.

Adhikari further said that the budget should be entirely people-centred as to inspire people to take part in the Constituent Assembly (CA) polls with full zeal and spirit.

Critisizing about planning and programme, Adhikari stressed on the need to focus on big roads, hydropower projects, postal highway, progressive land reforms and special agriculture packages.

Adhikari also disclosed that UML has recommended the government to significantly slash the budget of royal palace and royal family members. He said that the number of army personnel at the royal palace has been reduced while other officials have been brought under the civil service so the budget for the palace must come down.

UML has stressed that the budget should focus on the common minimum agreement among the eight-party alliance, provisions of the Interim Constitution and the spirit of Jana Andolan-II.

The party recommended that the budget should lay special attention on common development approach mentioned in the agreement, social justice, economic growth, justifiable distribution and socio-economic development.

UML has also asked the government to increase at least 25 per cent in the civil servant's salary based on their performance, waive 25 per cent in the registration fee while transferring the land ownership to women and introduce package programmes for the Dalits.

Similarly, implementation of cooperatives in every village, employment to every household, free education to increase access of women, dalits and backward people are some of the agendas that UML has suggested.

The recommendations further add that tourism in the Far-Western region should be promoted and the National Cooperatives Bank should be made effective and efficient.