NA Chair Timilsina concerned over lack of coherence in budget and plans

Kathmandu, Aug 29: National Assembly (NA) Chairperson, Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, has underlined the need of coordination and collaboration from the decision-making level to implementing bodies to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). In his address to the SDG Acceleration Visioning Workshop with Parliamentarians here today, the NA Chair maintained that there is the need of improvement and acceleration in the implementations of plans aiming to achieve the goals of sustainable development.

“Consistency is missing in the budget and plans. Honest efforts are expected in budget allocation. Consistency issue in budget never takes us to the achievement of SDGs. Land plotting in the plains for a residential purpose and farming in slope land will no more support in achieving food security.” He took time to advise the government and the National Planning Commission to select plans capable of achieving the SDGs and make budget allocations being based on the principle of social justice.

According to NA Vice Chairperson Urmila Aryal, substantive discussions are needed from the local to federal level with the focus on implementation aspect to accomplish the SDGs. A sustainable approach is required and there should be coherence between the budget allocation and local needs to meet the SDGS. Sustainable Development and Good Governance Committee President Prakash Panth said good governance and SDGs are the priorities of the nation and the issue would be discussed in all the parliamentary thematic committees.

Worldwide, there is a 12 percent progress in the achievement of the SDGs. Although Nepal’s progress as compared to the global progress is improving, a special focus should be provided on the plan selection, monitoring and implementation to achieve the remaining target, it is stated. On the occasion, Anil Pokharel, chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority made a presentation on the issue of climate change, Dr Usha Jha, former member of the National Planning Commission, on the subject of quality education, Dr Paras Kharel on the issue of financial development and former secretary Dr Ganesh Raj Joshi on the subject of food security.

Commenting on the papers, the National Assembly members Bhuvan Sunuwar, Suresh Alemagar and Kamala Panta said indigenous nationalities have had solutions and knowledge about reducing the impacts and damage caused by climate change, and the government should provide much attention to the issue of social justice. Prior to this, joint secretary of the National Planning Commission Prakash Dahal gave a presentation on the progress review of the SDGs so far and the future action plan. The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nepal, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, sought political commitments, active participation of bureaucracy and the government, and assistance, coordination and shared efforts of the stakeholders, civil society and non-governmental organisations for achieving the SDGs.