Kathmandu, Dec 26: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the government shall change its style of working.
In an address to the nation on the occasion of the completion of one year of his government today, he said that the legal, policy and procedural complexities of infrastructure development will be solved based on a work schedule and time table.
He also announced making structural changes in the Prime Minister’s Office, to give an indication of the way forward.
“Though the government did not fail but the outcome is not as per my willingness to deliver during this term,” he said while pledging to self-assess on the basis of not about how much the country has achieved but how much it could have achieved.
The Prime Minister pledged not to spend time in attending to programmes except that are already pre-scheduled and unavoidable. “I have come to conclusion to start working on the new policy and programme, and the budget, while addressing the problems in development and governance,” he said. This will be the starting of changing the working style of the government.
Pointing out complications in clearing hurdles in infrastructure development, including in using forest land and land acquisition, he said. “I will put an end to the tendency of obstructing the country’s development by pointing fingers at one another. I believe that if needed infrastructure development should be given top priority even by declaring an emergency.”
Coming decade will be a decade of rapid development
Prime Minister Dahal has said that the coming decade will be a decade of rapid development. He further said at least two shifts working model will be guaranteed in infrastructure development to be carried out in a ‘barrack model’. “Development will be carried out in a way that the citizens could feel it.”
Outlining the achievements of the previous year in the field of infrastructure development, the Prime Minister said 776.61 kilometers of black-topped roads were constructed along with 587.5 kilometers of gravel road. Another 181.29 kilometers of new tracks have been opened.
Stating that the under-construction Narayangadh-Butwal or the Muglin-Pokhara road sections could be taken as an example, Dahal said negative comments are being made by the public because the projects are not completed on time, which not only lead to increased cost but also inflict a lot of suffering on the people.”
Scope of health insurance will be expanded
PM Dahal has announced to expand the scope of health insurance. He said the insurance scheme has not proceeded according to the spirit of the National Health Insurance Act introduced during his previous tenure in 2074.
But the current government will improve it to realize the constitutional right of citizens to health with a high priority, he said. For this, policy and procedural reforms for the effective implementation of insurance, capacity building of the insurance board, strong monitoring and evaluation mechanism, increasing in the scope of insurance coverage and comprehensive improvement in the structure and quality of services, he informed that the government is taking care of the insurance.
The Prime Minister also expressed the commitment to increase the current ceiling in insurance coverage, while all the free health programs will be included in the health insurance in an integrated manner.
With a focus on health insurance, the health system will be development according to the integrated health infrastructure development standards, he said.
Production-based subsidy system in the offing
PM Dahal has said that the production-based subsidy system will be implemented soon. He further said the state investment has not dropped in agriculture but productivity has not increased. “Subsidy and fertilizer distribution will be made based on classification of farmers from next fiscal year to reach out to the real farmers with subsidized agro loan”.
Sharing that the production-based subsidy system will be implemented in the key foods and vegetables, PM Dahal pledged to make due payment to the milk farmers by the end of coming April. “But, such reform will not be sufficient for leap forward in agro sector”, the PM admitted. He further informed that 401,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizers were ensured for the farmers on time.
On the occasion, he shared that irrigation facility was provided to additional 21,168 hectares of land through surface and underground projects in the period.
As many as 296 dip tube well and 3,244 shallow tube well irrigation systems were installed, the PM claimed.
The government is prepared to declare (2081-91) as the decade of investment in agriculture to spur investment in agriculture sector from governments, private, development partners and cooperatives for the transformation of agro sector in Nepal.
“Construction of integrated agriculture and livestock centers with 30 labs will be completed by the mid-July 2024”, he said, adding, “Measures will be introduced to reduce the effects of rising import and climate change”.
He expressed the commitment to initiate canal development system for agriculture productivity.
Sports tourism will be promoted
Prime Minister Dahal has expressed the commitment to develop sports tourism in the country. He said with the success achieved by Nepali athletes a big foundation for sports tourism has been prepared in the country. This needs to be coupled with necessary infrastructure.
“Nepali cricket players made it to the World Cup without a well-equipped sports ground. Now every possible effort will be made to prepare well for the World Cup,” he said.
Prime Minister Dahal also said that the cricket grounds of Tribhuvan University in Kirtipur, in Mulpani of Kathmandu, the Phapla cricket ground in Kailali, and the cricket ground in Biratnagar and Gautam Buddha Cricket Stadium in Chitwan will be upgraded and developed as a project of national pride in coordination with all three levels of government.
He also shared that 252 athletes who won medals in South Asian and Asian sports competitions have been provided with monthly allowances, while the victorious cricket team members were honoured with cash prizes. “Along with these incentives, the government’s focus is now on building sports infrastructure.”
The government will leave no stone unturned to achieve the great potential of sports tourism by developing athletes, sports and sports infrastructure from the grassroots.
Sports tourism will be promoted
Prime Minister Dahal has expressed the commitment to develop sports tourism in the country. In an address to the nation on the occasion of the completion of one year of his government today, Prime Minister Dahal said with the success achieved by Nepali athletes a big foundation for sports tourism has been prepared in the country. This needs to be coupled with necessary infrastructure.
“Nepali cricket players made it to the World Cup without a well-equipped sports ground. Now every possible effort will be made to prepare well for the World Cup,” he said.
Prime Minister Dahal also said that the cricket grounds of Tribhuvan University in Kirtipur, in Mulpani of Kathmandu, the Phapla cricket ground in Kailali, and the cricket ground in Biratnagar and Gautam Buddha Cricket Stadium in Chitwan will be upgraded and developed as a project of national pride in coordination with all three levels of government.
He also shared that 252 athletes who won medals in South Asian and Asian sports competitions have been provided with monthly allowances, while the victorious cricket team members were honoured with cash prizes. “Along with these incentives, the government’s focus is now on building sports infrastructure.”
The government will leave no stone unturned to achieve the great potential of sports tourism by developing athletes, sports and sports infrastructure from the grassroots.
Full Text [Nepali]
प्रधानमन्त्रीको सम्बोधन पुस १०, २०८०
