Sudurpaschim Province adopts new policy for project selection and prioritization

The Sudurpaschim Provincial Government has adopted a policy to implement programs for the upcoming fiscal year by using selection criteria and a project bank to make the project selection and prioritization process result-oriented.

In the Provincial Assembly meeting on Monday, the province’s chief, Nazir Miyan, presented the policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/084. It emphasizes formulating the budget and programs for the next year based on the current periodic plans of the federal and provincial governments, the goals and priorities set by the upcoming second five-year plan, and the achievements from the implementation of the first five-year plan to ensure balanced allocation in sectoral projects.

The policy program also includes provisions for budget allocation, facilitation, coordination, and regulation to complete provincial pride projects within the next fiscal year. It states that the provincial government will not allocate budgets for development projects costing less than NPR 2.5 million, except for water supply projects. If projects costing less than NPR 2.5 million need to be implemented, they will be executed through financial transfers by local levels.

The policy program highlights making public expenditure economical, transparent, and effective while reducing unproductive expenses, maintaining financial discipline, and giving high priority to resolving audit arrears and inspection work.

Through the ‘Province Chief Startup Program’, skill development programs will be conducted, and an investment-friendly environment will be created to strengthen the provincial economy by promoting public-private partnerships. The policy program also includes upgrading provincial highways, provincial auxiliary roads, and constructing agricultural economic access roads based on the priorities of the provincial road transport master plan.

To provide water services, the ‘One House, One Tap’ program will be implemented, along with the execution of integrated agricultural irrigation projects for irrigation management. The continuation of the public housing program, the Chief Minister’s Small Enterprise Program to create employment and self-employment, the Dasharathchand skill-based and capacity-building program, and the Dwarikadevi Thakurai Women’s Entrepreneurship Program are also included in the policy program.

Additionally, under the slogan ‘Tourism Infrastructure: Foundation of a Prosperous Province’, the policy program mentions the conservation, development, and promotion of tourist areas. It includes constructing trekking routes to promote tourism in the Api-Surma-Saipal-Aptad-Ranisain-Badimalika-Ramaroshan area, developing the province as an attractive and safe tourist destination.

The policy program also includes running various programs under the slogan ‘Community Forests, Wealth of the Province’, and implementing the ‘Chief Minister Health Sector Improvement Program’. It covers topics like the Ghoraghori Health Treatment Program to prevent sickle cell anemia.

For sports development, the policy program includes necessary coordination and cooperation with the federal government to upgrade the Fapla Cricket Ground in Dhangadhi, upgrading the Dhangadhi Stadium, and providing special honors to provincial athletes who win medals in international and national competitions.

In the agricultural sector, the policy program mentions promoting the modernization, commercialization, and marketing of agriculture to achieve self-reliance in agricultural production. It includes running the ‘One Municipality, Two Products Program’, prioritizing the Farmer Identification Program, and implementing interest subsidies on agricultural loans and performance-based grants.