Sudurpaschim provincial assembly budget session opens with focus on people-oriented development

Dhangadhi: With the commencement of the eighth session (budget session) of the Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly, provincial assembly members have suggested that the government bring policies, programs, and a budget that benefit the entire province. In the first meeting of the session, members emphasized the need to prepare a budget that reflects the expectations, needs, and sentiments of the people.

Lawmakers urged the provincial government, which is currently engaged in preparing policies, programs, and the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, to prioritize people-oriented plans. Stating that development is uneven, UML parliamentary party leader Rajendra Rawal said equal development opportunities should be ensured across the province. He stressed the need to increase investment in agriculture, industry, and tourism and create employment opportunities for youth within the province.

Rawal said the current government is working to correct past shortcomings and noted signs of improvement despite limited resources. He mentioned that issues such as low grants from the federal government and the commission system seen in the past are gradually declining. He added that reforms should now be further refined and focused on long-term impactful plans.

Meanwhile, Deputy Leader of the NCP Parliamentary Party Prakash Rawal said people are increasingly frustrated due to various shortcomings. He stated that recent elections have reflected public dissatisfaction and emphasized that policies and programs should be formulated in line with public expectations. He also called for more active efforts to fulfill commitments made to the people.

Nepali Congress Provincial Assembly member Dammari Mahara drew the government’s attention to rising inflation and black marketing. She urged effective market monitoring to control inflation and said the gap between the assembly and the government is increasing, stressing that the suggestions of the House should be taken seriously. She also expressed dissatisfaction with federal policies and stated that the Far West government should work in favor of the poor and marginalized communities.

The meeting unanimously approved the proposal to send the Bill to amend the Far West Province Public Health Service Act, 2076 to the Social Development Committee for clause-wise discussion. In the opening meeting of the session, members sent a clear message to the government to prioritize equality, transparency, job creation, and people-oriented programs in development.