The Lumbini state government is announcing the budget for the next financial year 2082/083 today on Sunday. The government, which has been bringing a continuous deficit budget for four years, is going to announce a budget of more than 38 billion in the next year as well. The government had brought a budget of 38.97 billion for the current year. According to sources, the budget is being prepared by reducing only a few crores for the coming year.

In the thirteenth meeting of the Provincial Assembly at 5:00 p.m., Minister of Economic Affairs and Planning Dhanendra Karki is scheduled to present the annual estimate of revenue and expenditure. Along with the budget, Minister Karki will also submit the 'Bill to implement the financial proposals of the provincial government' in the provincial assembly. Finance Minister Karki believes that this budget prepared on the basis of policies and programs will address the prosperity, good governance and social justice of Lumbini province in a balanced manner. 

The Lumbini government has prioritized agriculture, employment, infrastructure, tourism, education, health, industry, environment, information technology and social security in the next year's budget.

Chief Minister Chetnarayan Acharya said that standing on the foundation of annual policies and programs, the government has started bringing the budget. "The government has decided the priorities of the budget so that the prosperity and development of the province moves in a rhythm," he said. We have considered agriculture, tourism, industry as the basis of prosperity,'' Chief Minister Acharya said that the budget will be brought on the basis of policies and programs.

In the current year 2081/82, Lumbini province brought a budget of 38.97 billion rupees. Chief Minister Acharya had been claiming to reduce the size of the budget to 32 billion for the coming year. However, some ministers were pressing to increase the size of the budget saying that the demand could not be met and the obligation to pay due to multi-year and provincial pride projects had increased. After the pressure of the ministers, the budget, which was prepared around 36 billion, was increased on Sunday and the time of bringing the jet was also postponed by 2 hours.

Chief Minister Acharya said that based on the challenge seen in resource mobilization, the effectiveness of spending and the re-determination of priorities, the size of the budget may increase a little more than what was prepared.

Prioritizing agriculture and employment

The provincial government has prioritized programs such as mechanization in agriculture, easy supply of seeds and fertilizers, expanding access to irrigation, agricultural market management, transfer of research and technology, subsidized loans and insurance to farmers. The government has taken the objective of creating employment and strengthening the rural economy by increasing agricultural production. Programs such as connecting youth to employment through entrepreneurship and skill training, expanding self-employment programs, promoting domestic and small industries will also be at the center of the budget. It is said that the government is focused on budgeting for job creation programs.

Emphasis on infrastructure and development

The government is preparing to allocate large budgets for the development of roads, bridges, irrigation, water supply, energy, housing and digital infrastructure to make infrastructure construction dynamic. Provincial highway expansion, rural road upgrading, river control, and investment in local infrastructure are being increased. Similarly, for the promotion of tourism, it is said that development of Buddhist darshan path, structural improvement of Lumbini and surrounding areas, internal and external tourist attraction programs will be conducted. The strategy to raise Lumbini as an international religious and cultural destination will be included in the budget.