Janakpur, Nov 7: The stakeholders here have suggested the government that it prioritized Madhes in the 16th plan.
Reasoning that Madhes is backward in human development and suffering from multiple crises including that of climate change, the periodic plan needs to address Madhes well, they underscored.
During an interaction organized by the National Planning Commission on preliminary draft of the 16th periodic plan (2081/82-2085/86) here Monday, the ministers and other stakeholders in Madhes province made such views.
Minister for Physical Infrastructures in province, Krishna Prasad Yadav, viewed various issues need adequate attention and address in the Madhes Province- agriculture, irrigation, infrastructure, chemical fertilizer, population and un/employment. The periodic plan should incorporate these issues with utmost priority, he suggested.
Similarly, Minister for Finance in province, Sanjay Yadav, said the province is home to over 6 million people and contributes 30 percent to the government income.
The budget allocation to this province is unjust, he argued, adding why 15th periodic plan ignored Madhes. He drew attention of the National Planning Commission, and political leadership in the centre to this end.
Moreover, Minister for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Govinda Bahadur Neupane, said agriculture must be focused by the 16th plan because it the base for prosperity.
Also speaking on the occasion, Vice Chairman of Madhes Province Policy and Planning Commission, Nathu Prasad Chaudhary, informed that although arable land was decreasing by 11 percent in Madhes, the households engaging with agriculture was increasing by 9.4 percent.
He sought attention towards sustainable solution of water. The tube wells were being dried up, so long term solution of water for drinking and irrigating is essential, he underlined.
