SANGAM

Govt’s programmes draw mixed views

By Sangam Prasain
Kathmandu, July 9, 2009:
Economists, business leaders and a politician gave mixed reactions to the government’s policies and programmes for the new fiscal year presented by President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav at the Legislature-Parliament Thursday.
Kush Kumar Joshi, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), pointed out that the government’s policies and programmes were inspiring as the package highlighted the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programme.
"The government move to developing necessary physical infrastructure required private sector’s active involvement in the overall economic development and industrialisation establishing rule of law and eliminating anarchy, insecurity and impunity."
He said that the government moves to prioritising public-private partnership and establishing an investment board for the smooth and expeditious implementation of decisions relating to the private sector investment was positive to give boost to the business community.
However, it failed to consider the private sector demand to introduce special a economic package, he noted. The programmes are promising but they need to be implemented effectively.
Dr. Poshraj Pandey, an economist reacting on the government policies and programmes, said that it had addressed the country’s requirements for overall development. However, the success of the policies and programmes rested on implementation with the available resources of the country.
He said that there was a need of institutional mechanism and procedures with political consensus in order to implement them practically. He said that the programmes would to be more effective if they had there been special package programme outlining people’s responsibilities towards the state.
However, the direction of government policies and programmes would be more dependent on the political consensus.
B. P. Yadav, CA member on behalf of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum, said that foreign affairs, economic and security policies were ambiguous. He noted that the policies and programmes had not mentioned agreement outline between different political parties, which was crucial to draft the new constitution within the stipulated time.
These policies and programmes were sure to be unproductive and the outcome nil. "The policies and programmes sound like a day-dream; they pour water on people’s hopes and aspirations," he added.
Meanwhile RSS adds: Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dip Kumar Upadhyay commented the government’s policies and programmes are positive and stressed the need of its effective implementation.
Though programmes seemed to be ambitious due to the compulsion of collation government, it would pave the new direction to the country, he noted.
Terai-Madhes Loktantriki Party (TMLP) leader Kabindra Thakur also dubbed the programme positive underlining the urgency of its effective execution.
Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) chairperson Surya Bahadur Thapa said the policy and programme are relevant and contextual.
Nepal Workers Peasants Party (NWPP) chairperson Narayan Man Bijukchhe said the government’s polices and programme are brought in such a way that it could never be attained and materialised.
Chairperson of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Kush Kumar Joshi said the subject of forming industrial security force is quite positive and high-level commitment should be there to execute the pro-people policies and programmes.
He added the circle of tax should be increased rather than its rate underscoring the need of public private partnership to spur investment.
Chairperson of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Surendra Bir Malakar said the policies and programmes have tried its best to incorporate all classes and regions but the significant part lies on its effective implementation.
Former Speaker Damannath Dhungana said the policies and programmes have opted for presenting solutions to the burning problems of country and its implementation part will assess its significance.
Industrialist and Constituent Assembly (CA) member Diwakar Golchha also focused his view on the execution side of the policies and programmes.