January 20: Government’s financial account is under pressure. Government expenditure exceeding the income has caused imbalance to persist. 

The government has collected a revenue of Rs 462 billion till January 18 despite its target of collecting 1403 billion revenue in the current fiscal year. 

The government has spent Rs 582 billion till January 18. Out of it, Rs 460 billion is administrative expenditure while Rs 54.42 billion is capital expenses. 

The data shows that revenue is hardly enough to sustain administrative expenses of the government. The government has started off initiative to end imbalance of income and expenditure.

The first Cabinet meeting of the Pushpa Kamal Dahal led government had decided to cut the unnecessary expenses to balance the government’s income and expenditures.

In line with same decision, Finance Ministry has issued Guidelines to Reduce current government expenditure-2079 at the initiative of Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel.  

As per the guidelines released by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Poudel, the administrative and current expenses in the government agencies would be cut by 15 per cent as stated in the national budget of the current fiscal year.

With the new guidelines in place, non-essential national and foreign trips of government officials will be discouraged. Similarly, engine oil and lubricants would be used only if needed while servicing the two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

 Likewise, unnecessary hoarding of goods would be discouraged and the ministry's publications would be uploaded in the websites, instead of printing them.

Furthermore, non-essential seminars, training, symposium and such activities would be discouraged and even if they required to be held the government halls would be used instead of expensive hotels.

Additional allowances for budget drafting would not be given and only 50 per cent, i. e Rs 300  would be provided in case if it is an obligation.

Unnecessary use of AC, heater and fan would be discouraged along with bottled water. The toner and cartridge would be refilled as far as practicable.

The ministry stated that no new workforce would be hired on a contract and daily wage basis, besides for the approved posts.