Nepal’s eight ministers on Foreign Junket: National Exchequer Drained
TGW/Ram Chandra Bhatta
A cabinet decision recently made clearly states that the government strictly adheres to austerity measures. The said decision also observes that the ministers will refrain from making foreign trips which yield nothing positive for the country.
Nevertheless, writes Ram Chandra Bhatta for The Samachar Patra Daily today that the one third of the ministers i.e. eight in the revolutionary government under the Maoists commands are on a trip abroad.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is currently on a trip to the US to attend the 63rd UN General Assembly along with his entire family. Prime Minister Dahal is leading a delegation of a dozen men from Nepal.
Quotes Samacharpatra an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that, the PM will draw 360 US$ from the National exchequer each day as travel and per diem allowance.
Similarly, PM Dahal’s better half Mrs. Sita Poudel Dahal and heir apparent Prakash Dahal both will receive 210 $ each per day again from the national exchequer.
Junior Dahal and Mrs. Poudel have been granted the rank of deputy-secretary by the cabinet.
PM Dahal is also accompanied by his Daughter Renu Dahal and Daughter-in-law Srijana Tripathi. However, their ranks have not been disclosed.
Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav is also currently in New York-who left Nepal only last Wednesday leading a delegation of four men.
Minister Yadav will be in New York via Denmark.
Minister for Information and Communications Mr. Krishna Bahadur Mahara is currently in North Korea. Minister Mahara is accompanied by his private assistance and Maoists leader Netra Bikram Chand Biplav.
Minister for Defense Mr. Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal is currently in China leading a delegation of three men. The Foreign Ministry officials claim that they have no knowledge of Mr. Badal’s official trip to China.
Mr. Gopal Shakya, minister for Youth and Sports is currently in Ajarbaijan and Minister for Culture Mr. Gopal Kirati in Hong Kong.
Agriculture and cooperative Minister Jay Prakash Gupta and Minister for Law Mr. Dev Gurung left for New Delhi only Thursday.
Minister Gurung is to attend an official meet in Delhi. However, why minister Gupta is in Delhi, the Almighty knows.
Minister for Tourism and Aviation Mrs. Hisila Yami Bhattarai returned home on Wednesday after a trip to the UK. What was the purpose of her visit to the UK has not been made public.
Finally, the Finance Minister Dr. Babu ram Bhattarai is soon to head towards Washington to take part in a World Bank meeting.
This meet is more or less important for this country.
Adds Samacharpatra the ministers draw at least 200 $ each per day while on a trip abroad.
This explains the mood of the Revolutionaries to go on in a pleasure trip albeit at the cost of the national exchequer.
source :http://telegraphnepal.com/news_det.php?news_id=4121
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