The National Assembly today endorsed the Budget Appropriation Bill 2020-21 amounting to almost Nu 74B with the current budget of Nu 32.9B and the capital budget of Nu 41B.
The house also endorsed the Supplementary Budget Appropriation Bill 2019-2020 amounting to more than Nu1B.
While presenting the Budget Appropriation Bill 2020-2021, the finance minister proposed seven temporary fiscal measures to meet the recurrent expenditure from internal resources last week.
Member of Parliament from Khar-Yurung Constituency in Pema Gatshel, Tshering Choden, requested the government to defer the payment of transfer benefits for civil servants instead of slashing transfer benefits as proposed by the finance ministry.
“Some apply for transfer on medical ground while others have their spouse and children in different dzongkhags. So instead of temporarily stopping the transfer allowance, I would like to request if the government could defer the benefits like LTC (Leave Travel Concession),” she said.
In response, Finance Minister Namgay Tshering said that the measures are only temporary and as the transfer benefit is not a huge amount, individuals can afford it. “As per their grade, some amount is provided to pay for the transportation as transfer grant,” said Lyonpo.
The finance minister said that the current expenditure has been adjusted within the available domestic revenue of Nu 32.9B and covers mandatory expenditures. Around 56 percent of the current expenditure is allocated for salary and wages, 16 percent for operation and maintenances, 21 percent for subsidies and grants, and 6 percent for interest repayment.
The house unanimously adopted all temporary fiscal measures proposed. The bills passed today will be deliberated in the National Council.
Tshering Zam/ Sangay Chezom
