Lawmakers in the National Assembly expressed mixed opinions during discussions on the government’s newly unveiled policies and programmes for the Fiscal Year 2025/26. While some welcomed the document as forward-looking, others criticized it for lacking concrete implementation plans and clarity on key national issues.

Participating in the discussion, Nepali Congress lawmaker Ananda Prasad Dhungana said the policies and programmes were formulated in the country’s interest and aimed at long-term solutions. He stated that the document incorporated inputs from all sectors and sought to avoid duplication across federal, provincial, and local levels.

"Policies and programmes are the lens through which to evaluate the government. In the past, plans were scattered, and the same programmes were repeated at all three levels. The current document promises to eliminate that duplicity and organize plans more effectively," Dhungana said. He also emphasized the need to focus on irrigation, market access, and proper management in the agriculture sector, cautioning that without these, ambitious development plans would remain ineffective.

However, other lawmakers raised concerns about shortcomings in the document. Lawmaker Bamdev Gautam criticized the policies and programmes for being overly focused on policy statements while offering few actionable programmes. "There is no concrete plan to eliminate corruption or address ongoing protest movements. The document falls short of aligning with the constitutional goal of a socialism-oriented economy," he said.

Sharada Devi Bhatta welcomed the inclusion of commercial risk insurance in the programme, calling it a positive step.

Jag Prasad Sharma stressed the importance of boosting exports and argued that the policies lacked focus on good governance, prosperity, and social justice.

Similarly, Dr. Beduram Bhusal said the policies and programmes failed to address the aspirations of the people. He pointed out the lack of clarity in strategies to generate employment and build a self-reliant economy, especially as more youth continue to migrate abroad due to job scarcity. Bhusal also criticized the document for not reflecting the goals set by the 16th periodic plan. -- RSS