The government is going full swing in preparation to bring out the government budget for the fiscal year that starts on July 16. In this process, the government is also preparing to change some policies. However, there are views that argue that as this government’s mandate is only to hold the coming elections, it must not change any of the existing policies. The Corporate talked with some experts about the issue. Excerpts:

Dr Chiranjibi Nepal 

Principal Advisor 

Ministry of Finance 

The present government can definitely change the existing policies as required and bring new programmes. The 25-point agreement between the major political parties while appointing this government has cleared the way to introduce budget by this government with necessary changes in policies. It is very important to bring budget in time or else the economic growth rate will be hampered. The government has set the target of 7 per cent economic growth by 2015 and it is possible only if the existing government can change some policies as required to expedite capital expenditure. I think, major political parties agree on this.

Dr Chandra Mani Adhikari

Economist 

In my opinion, this government cannot change the existing policies. The government should bring full budget to ensure effective expenditure planning in the coming fiscal year. The government, however, should not be ambitious and bring the budget in a manner that an elected government does. I think the government should take care of at least three issues. It should not introduce new programmes, it should not change policies and should not initiate big projects. Similarly, the government should not make the size of budget too large. In the revenue front, government cannot change the existing revenue policy but it can change tax rates, if needed.

Hariraj Khewa Limbu,

Former Minister of State for Finance 

This government does not have the right to change the existing policies, and it should adhere to the ones adopted by the Baburam Bhattarai-led government. The government should solely focus on the Constituent Assembly elections. The primary concern for now is to form a good Constituent Assembly. This government’s only responsibility to hold election. It does not have any right to bring new programmes and policies. Moreover, as the focus should be on the elections, the government does not have time to effectively formulate new policies and monitor them, which might lead to corruption. There will be no mechanism to check corrupt activities in the absence of an elected body.