The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has demanded revocation of the Electoral Constituency Infrastructure Special Program.
The central committee meeting that ended Wednesday night has concluded that budget should no longer be doled out in the name of lawmakers when the local, provincial and federal governments carry out development works. "Do revoke the policy of Electoral Constituency Infrastructure Special Program itself," the decision of central committee meeting states.
The party has advised the budget freed from this be added to the health sector. "The meeting has demanded revocation of policy of Electoral Constituency Infrastructure Special Program and use the fund to make appropriate arrangements for awareness programs, medical supplies, relief to affected people and treatment to face the risk of coronavirus pandemic," the decision adds.
The party has decided to raise the issue of Electoral Constituency Infrastructure Special Program with priority both inside the parliament and outside.
NC Spokesperson Bishwo Prakash Sharma argued that the program was deemed necessary in the past for carrying out development works through the lawmakers when there were no elected local representatives and added that it should be revoked now that there are all three levels of government.
Pointing that the program that should have been removed right after the Constituent Assembly election has been continued till date, NC has said it is about time the program was discontinued. "There is the risk of economic crisis after the health crisis. Nepal's economic growth rate is projected to fall to 1.5 percent. We should increase investment in the health sector in such situation and observe austerity. We have concluded that the policy of Electoral Constituency Infrastructure Special Program should be revoked," Sharma elaborated.
He added that the party lawmakers will take stand against the policy even in the House now that the party has decided to revoke it.
The federal government allocates Rs 60 million to each directly elected House of Representatives (HoR) member every year while the provincial governments also allocates annual budget to the assembly members.
