Mr. Chairman, Dignitaries and friends
First of all I would like to extend my heartily felicitation on behalf of my country & Nepalese people.
Mr. Chairman. Our parliamentary practices and proceeding which has a very short history of nine years. And we are progressing through a process of trial and error method.
Mr. Chairman. National budget represents the aspiration of the people of any country. A true budget reflects the maximum social advantages. It emphases the social benefits on one hand and economic development on the other. In fact it is a mirror of a country.
In Nepal when budget is presented in Lower House in joint seating, it invites the Parliamentarians for wide discussions only. Every parliamentarian wants to include his programs in budget. But Parliamentarians have a limited role to play. Even after detail discussion they are not allowed to amend the budget, but they have to pass it as it is. Then it is sent to the Upper House. And after receiving the consent from the Upper House it is sent to his Majesty the King for his approval. His Majesty the King gives approval in due time and sends it back to the original house.
But before coming to the House, the procedure of budget preparation has been duly completed by the National Planing commission. The NPC invites all political parties & concern organisations to collect the suggestions, which could be an accumulation of good ideas, and programs which will have good impact on socio-economic development of Nepal and is thus included in the National budget. At this stage there is a great deal of liberty for all to be critical or accommodative in the budget preparation.
Mr. Chairman. I would like to present some suggestions. Firstly, both the Lower and Upper House should be equally empowered, so that the accountability of Parliament will be enhanced. But the Upper House has least right to participate against in every aspect including 'budgeting' process in Nepal. For example the Upper House does not have the right to pass the budget but only to be informed. The role and right of the Upper House should be increased including passing of the budget.
Secondly, parliamentarians should play the role of monitoring the budget in their constituency when it is allocated. Parliamentarian could play a watchdog role about the implementation of program given in the budget, avoiding evasion and making it transparent. They could compel the publication of progress report and accounts or balance sheet of the project to local as well as to the civil society. So that it would involve parliamentarians in the fight against corruption and it would create the feeling of responsibility towards the civil society and to themselves also.
Thank you and Jai Nepal.