Cooperative sector to be prioritised in budget: Minister Sharma

KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has said the government is doing homework to prioritise the cooperative sector in the budget for the fiscal year 2022/23. During a meeting held with stakeholders and campaigners of the cooperative sector at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday to prepare the policies and programmes, and the budget for the next fiscal year, Minister Sharma said the government would make effort to address the issues in the budget after taking suggestions from all quarters. A lot of suggestions have been received to improve the cooperative sector, he said and added, these suggestions will be used in the budget to address the issues. More than two dozen stakeholders and campaigners from cooperative sectors were present at the meeting. Chairman of National Cooperative Federation of Nepal, Min Raj Kandel, suggested the Acts that contradict the cooperative sector should be amended. Further, he suggested there should be a provision of refinancing from the National Cooperative Bank, there should be arrangements for the cooperative sector to construct and operate cold stores in all seven provinces. He was of the view that only the cooperative sector should be allowed to operate milk powder industry. Others present at the meeting suggested that the cooperatives should be encouraged to expand their reach and go door to door, the debt recovery should be made effective, strict measures should be taken to regulate misconduct in cooperatives, and research work should be carried out for the development of cooperatives. The Finance Ministry has been holding discussions with various quarters for the preparation of the budget. So far, discussions have been held with stakeholders and campaigners of agriculture, education, private sector, banks and financial institutions, and insurance, infrastructure development sector, marginalised communities, persons with disabilities, and economists among other sectors. The ministry is also holding discussions with lawmakers, former finance ministers, youth and students to get suggestions for the budget. The ministry has provided toll-free no. 1138 for the general public who are physically unable to attend the discussion and give suggestions. The ministry is also receiving encouraging suggestions through the toll-free number which can be given by calling during office hours. READ ALSO:

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