After protests, Nepal govt makes public details of Covid-19 expenses

A protest outside the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar, on Thursday, June 11, 2020.

Kathmandu, June 13

The government of Nepal has made public details of expenses it made so far in the country’s Covid-19 response.

The government’s Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee on Friday had decided to make the expense details public after youth in various parts of the country staged protests arguing the government response involved corruption.

According to the detail, the governments at federal, provincial, and local levels spent Rs 8.391 million so far. The federal government and its agencies spent Rs 4.105 million. The agencies to make spending include six ministries; namely: health, defence, home, foreign affairs, tourism and civil aviation, urban development, and education.

Likewise, the seven provincial governments spent Rs 1.304 million. Of them, Sudurpaschim spent the highest of the amount (Rs 365 million) whereas Province 5 recorded the lowest (Rs 78 million).

Meanwhile, local governments spent Rs 2.985 million in total.