Senior leader of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Balen Shah has stated that the provincial structure involves minimal expenditure
Shah, who is contesting the upcoming election from Jhapa-5, has remarked that the salaries drawn by ministers and parliamentarians are not the cause of the country's economic downfall.
"The provincial structure has low costs. The amount spent on salaries is minimal," Shah said while interacting with locals in Kamal Rural Municipality of Jhapa-5 on Tuesday. "The country has not gone bankrupt because of the salaries consumed by ministers and lawmakers."
Shah’s comments came in response to a local resident who suggested that abolishing the provincial structure would free up sufficient budget for sectors like education and health. The local, who shared that he had returned to Nepal after spending 20 years in Gulf countries, noted that he had no savings left to invest in his home country.
Additionally, the resident asked Shah whether it would be possible to make education and health more affordable, even if they cannot be made entirely free.
In response, Shah mentioned that support is already being provided to underprivileged students for their education. "The Constitution states that education should be free, but there is no budget for it," Shah said. "Those without money in their pockets must still receive education and healthcare, while those with money should be allowed to conduct business."
