Kathmandu June 13:

The Bagmati state government is to present a budget of around 50 billion rupees for the new fiscal year 2077/78 (2020/21). The budget is being presented at the State assembly on coming June 15. The budget estimates for the coming fiscal year will include programmes to revive the overall economy hit by the lockdown, increase agro production and promote entrepreneurship, said Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Kailash Prasad Dhungel. A ‘COVID special agriculture programme’ is one of the major attractions of the budget. The returnee migrant workers will be linked with agriculture sector based on their skills and experience in farming and animal husbandry as well as poultry. Likewise, the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment has targeted to generate employment to around 300,000 youth in the new fiscal year. Self-employment shall also be promoted. For this, a budget of Rs. 3 million each has been allocated to all the local levels. The ministry also targets to plant 1.9 million saplings of wild fruits and herbs in the year. A feasibility study has been initiated along with acquisition of land for implementing the ‘one constituency, one industrial village’ programmes in 10 constituencies. Employment generation, technology transfer, raw materials processing, industries based on agriculture, fruits, herbs and forest are also being included in the budget. Under-construction tourism infrastructure building hill stations, model tourist destination, tourist village, film city in Dolakha and Gaurishanker circuit are to be continued. Efforts will begin to establish wood seasoning and treatment plant in Kavrepalanchowk and Sindhupalchowk districts.