The government has presented its policy and programs for upcoming fiscal year 2020/2021 with an objective of revitalizing the national economy.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari presented the policy and programs at a joint meeting of the federal parliament on Friday. She said that the action plan of the government would be focused on strong infrastructure development for health sector, education, employment creation and revitalization of national economy.
Government will bring separate schemes to strengthen the economy as it is being worsened due to COVID-19 outbreak and its severe impact in each sector. According to the President, the policy and programs will stress on increasing economic activities, adequate investment in productive sectors, reduction of unnecessary expenditures, employment generation among others.
The Head of the State argued that the foreign aid could be decreased therefore more focus would on making a self-reliant economy. President further said that professionalism would be enhanced in agro sector for more productivity.
National pride projects would again be prioritized and measures adopted to complete them in stipulated timeframe, she said.
She announced that the government would run the closed and sick industries from the upcoming fiscal year. The industries closed for various reasons would be brought into operation even with support from the private sector with due process.
The government policy and programs has also kept the industry sector’s development in top priority. Hetauda Garments Factory, Butwal Thread Factory, Gorakhkhali Rubber Industry and some other industries are closed for long in the country. Likewise, the government has planned to develop and expand the industries for the production and processing of agricultural and forest-based products.
Furthermore, the policy and programs have prioritized the development of industries that use raw materials from within the country. Stating that industrial villages were established in 45 local levels across the country in the current fiscal year, the plans to open industrial villages in other local levels would be forwarded in the upcoming fiscal year.
The government has also planned to construct Infectious Diseases Hospital in all seven provinces to provide healthcare services against the infectious diseases.
President Bhandari shared that the provinces would have 50-bed hospitals while a 300-bed hospital in the center.
The to-be-built health facilities will be well-equipped and modern one to provide healthcare services against the communicable infections. Currently, there is only one such hospital at Teku- Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Diseases Hospital.
Furthermore, the new policies and programs include insuring all Nepalis within three years. Qualitative growth of the healthcare facilities in the local units will be given priority in the new fiscal year. Each local unit will have 5 to 15-bed hospital, according to the new policies and programs.
The existing district hospitals in every district will be upgraded from 25 to 50-bed hospital while the zonal hospitals will be made 200-bed hospitals.
Likewise, Western Regional Hospital in Pokhara, Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar, Narayani Hospital, Bharatpur Hospital, Bheri Hospital and Dadheldhura Hospital will be upgraded into 500-bed hospitals.
Similarly, Trauma Centers would be built along the major highways in the country and integrated ambulance services will be expanded. Health programs relating to preventive and curative facilities would be launched while expanding immunization programs to all 753 local units across the country from existing 671.
