The event was organized to welcome NCP’s new members. “The IIFA Awards will be allowed to take place in Nepal if the circumstances are favorable to the national interest,” said PM Oli while addressing the newcomers.

PM Oli iterated that IIFA would take place only when Nepal is in a position to host the event. He said that Council of Ministers had earlier mentioned in their statement that the international event would be held only on the condition that it would entail low investments and high returns.

PM Oli also clarified that the reports concerning Nepal Government spending billions of rupees on the award ceremony were false.

“The government has not decided anything on it yet. False rumors were spread to prevent the IIFA event from taking place in Nepal.” he clarified.

Oli also heavily came down on the parliamentary committee for stopping the government from holding the event.

Related News

• Nepal Government Withdraws Decision to Host IIFA Awards 2019

The post PM Oli Speaks Up Against IIFA 2019 Rumors appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Thapaliya will chair the post that has been vacant after Ayodhee Prasad Yadav’s tenure last month.

Post the endorsement, Thapaliya presented his plans for reforms in CEC and the country’s electoral system as a whole.

He expressed commitment to bring in fair and free electoral system along with necessary advancements, while also making the voting process easier for Non-Resident Nepalis.

Thapaliya’s appointment is now waiting for President Bidhya Devi Bhandari’s approval.

Thapaliya has served in top government department as the Secretary at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration.

His appointment came after a special hearing held to examine complaints made against the nominees for the country’s top posts i.e. CEC and Supreme Court Justice, on April 17, 2019.

Background

Nepal’s Parliamentary Hearing Committee held special meetings on April 16, 2019 pertaining to hearing of nominations made for the country’s top posts.

This include nominees for the posts of Chief Election Commissioner and Supreme Court Judge.

In its decision on April 16, the Committee decided to hold a hearing session with Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya nominated for the vacant position of the Chief Election Commissioner on April 17, 2019.

According to the Committee Chairperson Laxman Lal Karki, Thapaliya was due to attend the hearing at 2 pm today. While, the panel has decided to meet complainants against Thapaliya at 11 am the same day.

A total of 6 complaints have been filed against Thapaliya.

In another important decision, the Committee summoned five persons nominated for the Supreme Court Judge post on April 11, 2019.

The Committee is also due to meet complainants against the nominees for the SC Judge post on April 18, 2019.

Kumar Regmi, Hari Phunyal, Manoj Raj Sharma, Prakash Dhungana and Sushma Lata Mathema have been recently nominated for the SC Judge post, recently. And, a total of 5 complaints have been lodged against them.

The post Parliamentary Committee Schedules Hearing for Top Nepali Posts appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Three years ago, the budget announcement date was moved from May-end to mid-July giving the government more time for budget endorsement and increasing capital expenditure. 

However, this move has failed with the government unable to bring the expected rise in capital expenditure.

Nepal’s Capital Expenditure

According to Nepal Finance Ministry (MoF) records, the country’s capital expenditure in FY 2015-16, 2016-17 & FY 2017-18 was 59, 66 and 84 percent respectively.

Despite this increase over the last three years, Nepal’s FY 2015-18 capital expenditure remained at an average 69 percent (period when budget announcement date was extended). Before this period, the country recorded an average capital expenditure of 77 percent.

Reasons for Failure

As per the Finance Ministry, inadequate ownership in implementation was responsible for slow capital spending.

“Besides, problems seen in the disbursement process are also among the main causes behind the low capital expenditure,” the Ministry stated in a report submitted to the Parliamentary Finance Committee.

Revenue Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana identified delays in land acquisition and delegation of authority as key reasons for failure in proper implementation of the annual budget despite early announcement.

“Lack of proper preparation of the envisioned projects and government agencies demanding inflated budgets not based on actual need and capacity are among the underlying problems,” said Dhungana.

Speaking about Nepal’s capital expenditure this year Dhungana says,

“Although authority has been delegated to local governments to make decisions on a number of development projects, the federal government is yet to come up with clear demarcation of the areas of expenditure.”

The Solution

Despite several attempts in the past including a ‘time-bound action plan’ implemented by the MoF, the country has been unable to enhance its slow capital spending.

Continuing its efforts and coming up with a different solution this time, the Nepal Government has formed a five-member ‘Public Expenditure Review Committee’ under the leadership of Dilli Raj Khanal.

Additionally, it has stipulated a Treasury Single Account system to enhance the budget disbursement pattern.

The Parliamentary Committee has also given the government a budget spending time frame of 60 percent in the second quarter, 30 percent by mid-May and the remaining 10 percent in the last month of the fiscal year.

The post Nepal’s Capital Expenditure Witnesses Slump appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

These include National Assembly Members Election Bill-2075, Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIED) and Truth and Reconciliation (First Amendment) Bill -2075 and other bill pertaining to the job descriptions and benefits of the House of Representatives (HoR) Secretary and National Assembly Secretary-2075.

HoR passed the transitional justice bill in a meeting on July 02, 2018.

The bill entitled ‘Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (First Amendment) Bill’ replaces the ordinance formed by the erstwhile Deuba-led Nepal Government and extends the tenure of two transitional justice mechanisms: Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and CIEDP.

Prior to the latest move, both the houses have passed the bill and had sent it to President Bhandari for endorsement.

This is not only about the two commissions, it is also about the peace process. The peace process will not end without settling conflict era cases, says Sher Bahadur Tamang, Minister of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs

So far, CIEDP has received a total of 3,093 complaints, of which, it recommended 2,258 complaints for detailed investigation after completing preliminary investigations, and more than 250 complaints are currently under detailed investigation.

On the other side, there are also 60,000 complaints on TRC table and 7,000 of them are currently under investigation. The commission has set up at least one office in every province for the task.

Landmark Bill Receives Nod

In another major parliamentary update, the long-awaited landmark National Medical Education Bill-2075 also received a nod recently for further approval through ordinary legislative procedure.

The government placed the Bill in the House on July 01, 2018 and has been taken ahead for parliamentary process with all-round support from all political parties including opposition for its endorsement.

As a replacement to the National Medical Education Ordinance issued by the government around eight months ago, the new Bill is being considered as the need of the hour for the nation towards addressing issues in the field of country’s medical education and healthcare sector as a whole.

This update comes as a good news for all the related stakeholders including doctors from reputed medical and healthcare departments of the country who have been relentlessly fighting for reforms in medical education the same led by the country’s renowned surgeon and social activist KC Govinda.

Business Advisory Panel Soon

Nepal Parliament is also ready to approve a new Business Advisory Panel that will be live very soon.

The Parliamentary Secretariat has already received names of lawmakers from the country’s political parties including opposition, which will be presented at the Parliamentary Public Hearing Committee by end of the day of July 03, 2018.

We have asked the parties to submit names of lawmakers in order to form various parliamentary panels as soon as possible, says Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Parliament Speaker 

According to HoR Secretary Gopal Yogi, the committee is most likely to be formed on July 04, 2018, which is also the deadline for all the parties to submit the names of recommended lawmakers to be represented in the committee.

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