Far-Western Ministry Allocates Budget Outside Core Responsibilities

Dhangadhi. The annual program booklet of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law of the Far-Western Province for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84 has shown more plans outside the ministry's core responsibilities. The ministry, which should be focused on peace and security, lawmaking, and disaster management, has been seen to be scattering its budget on small plans related to education, health, sports, and physical infrastructure.

The ministry has concentrated the largest budget in Lamkichuha Municipality of Kailali. For Lamkichuha Provincial Hospital, which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Health, 5-5 crore rupees have been allocated under two headings, totaling 10 crore rupees.

Similarly, dozens of plans for school building construction, which are the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, have been included in this ministry. 19-19 lakh rupees have been allocated for Lamkichuha's Nepal Rajya Karnali Secondary School, Rajya Secondary School Thapapur, Saraswati Secondary School, Janata Secondary School Chaurpur, Navanirman Secondary School, and Jeevandeep Avika.

Likewise, the Ministry of Law is spending 75 lakh rupees for the auditorium hall of Lamki Multiple Campus and 1 crore rupees for the e-library. 19-19 lakh rupees have also been set aside for the construction of Shahid Smriti Secondary School, Bal Kalyan Secondary School, and Samudayik Mandal buildings.

Interfering in the work of the Sports Council, the ministry has allocated 1 crore rupees for the cricket ground in Lamkichuha-3, 19 lakh rupees for the Chisapani football ground, and 38 lakh rupees for the Thakalpur playground. Additionally, 45 lakh 60 thousand rupees are being spent on the physical construction of Community Radio West Voice, and 19-19 lakh rupees each for the construction of Panchakoshi Community Building and Senior Citizens Library.

The ministry has prioritized building construction. 3 crore rupees have been allocated for the Kanchanpur Prison building, 1 crore rupees for the drug rehabilitation center, and billions of rupees for police stations in various districts. Budgets ranging from 15 to 40 lakh rupees have been allocated for the construction of police stations, messes, and barracks in dozens of places including Muya Chaur in Bajura, Bajhang, Achham, Purchaudi in Baitadi, Gokuleshwor in Darchula, and Gaddachauki in Kanchanpur. 38 lakh rupees have been allocated for the construction of the Armed Police hospital and a significant amount for various barracks.

The ministry is spending a large sum on purchasing new vehicles. 1 crore 80 lakh rupees have been allocated for purchasing vehicles for officials, 38 lakh rupees for electric vehicles, 1 crore 60 lakh rupees for purchasing vans for Badigoriya and Janaki rural municipalities, and 26 lakh 60 thousand rupees for motorcycles and scooters.

The ministry is also spending lakhs on upgrading its hall, purchasing furniture, and air conditioners.

In the Far-West, which is at risk of floods and inundation, the budget for the main work of disaster management is very low. Only 1 lakh 70 thousand rupees have been allocated for disaster risk reduction information publication and 6 lakh 46 thousand rupees for drone purchase. 15 lakh 20 thousand rupees have been set aside for flood early warning equipment.

In the field of journalism, only 2 lakh 55 thousand rupees have been allocated for journalists' accident insurance, 1 lakh 70 thousand rupees for the capacity development of Dalit journalists, and 8 lakh 50 thousand rupees for writing stipends. Similarly, 11-11 lakh 40 thousand rupees have been allocated for the construction of buildings and studios for the Federation of Nepali Journalists Far-Western and Kanchanpur.

The ministry has also included programs such as the 'Driver with Owner' program for drug control with 4 lakh 25 thousand rupees, the Digital Far-West Framework with 17 lakh rupees, and data management at border crossings with 4 lakh 25 thousand rupees.

A scholarship program for Dalit and underprivileged students to study law with 6 lakh 38 thousand rupees and for undergraduate studies with 2 lakh 13 thousand rupees has also been included.