Kathmandu. The budget for the sports sector for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83 BS has been increased after the 10th National Games, which could not be completed last year, included programs such as upgrading the TU cricket ground being constructed by the Ministry of Urban Development.
The government has allocated Rs 6.08 billion for the Ministry of Youth and Sports next year. The budget for youth and sports has been increased in the budget presented by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel on Thursday.
A budget of Rs 3.5 billion was allocated in the previous fiscal year. This is an increase of Rs 2.58 billion over the last fiscal year. The budget for sports also increased after the Ministry of Finance made a provision that no less than Rs 30 million can be allocated for each project.
The budget for sports has increased as the previous program continues. 80 percent of the budget allocated for the ministry goes to sports.
But this time, it is clear that the budget allocation is more than the shilling and proposal programs, so it is clear that the program focused on the constituency of the lawmakers has got priority. This time the budget includes the 10th National Games, Trivi Cricket Ground, construction of modern stadium in Damak, construction of High Altitude Sports Stadium, Mulpani Cricket Ground and other sports infrastructures.
Out of this, Rs 400 million spent by the Ministry of Urban Development for the construction of tu ground has been included in sports. The plan was not mentioned in the program proposed by the Ministry of Sports. The Sports Ministry had proposed 91 projects this time. A ministry official said that most of these projects have been budgeted.
The 19th South Asian Games were held in Nepal in 2019. However, the budget could not be fully implemented. At that time, rs 1.2 billion was frozen at the cost of Rs 4 billion.
This time too, it is estimated that it could be a challenge. The Sports Ministry had received a ceiling of Rs 3.20 billion this time. Although the budget was proposed around the same time, a large amount of money has been allocated.
An employee of the Sports Ministry said that the budget has been more than the ceiling as the plan has been distributed among the party’s lawmakers. Budget has been allocated for the construction of sports infrastructure in Mustang, Jhapa and some other areas. Which were beyond the proposed plan.
It is estimated that around Rs 4 billion will be spent by the local level and Rs 2 billion by the centre. Out of the budget fixed for sports, Rs 820 million is spent on regular salary and allowances. Rs 540 million has been allocated for the 10th National Games, Rs 400 million for upgrading the TU ground, Rs 420 million for the construction of Mulpani Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu, Girija Prasad Koirala Stadium in Morang, Fapla Cricket Stadium in Kailali and Siddhartha Cricket Stadium in Rupandehi.
These schemes are outdated and most of the MPs are election-centric programmes. A budget of Rs 600 million was allocated for the 10th Games to be held in the last fiscal year. Which was continued in the ceiling this time. However, it has been cut.
According to an official of the ministry, other new programs worth Rs 350 million may have been included in this budget. National Sports Council (NSC) member-secretary Tanka Lal Ghising, however, said the budget increase was a positive aspect for Nepali sports.
He believes that sports will take a new leap when all stakeholders and various bodies work together to implement this budget. However, the government has said that the budget has been increased with the claim that investment will be increased for the construction of sports infrastructure and professional development of players. The government also plans to attract the private sector to invest in sports infrastructure.
According to the government, continuous training and competition will be conducted to develop the high morale of the players that ‘I can win’.
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