The National Council adopted three review reports and endorsed the 13th Five-Year Plan today. The review reports were on Satong and Gungtong, the State of Persons with Disabilities, and compensation-related policies for human and wildlife conflict and crop damage due to natural calamities. The House also adopted the Budget Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2024-2025 and the Supplementary Budget Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2023-2024.
The members of the National Council unanimously adopted all 12 recommendations of the review report of Satong and Gungtong.
The Good Governance Committee’s recommendations are on creating policies including a national rice policy, land use and exchange policy, and programmes and subsidies to support youth and farmers.
“We have included a new recommendation, as suggested by Pema Gatshel’s MP, to incorporate a national rice policy. Similarly, we have added a separate recommendation to provide facilities and amenities for people living in border areas. Additionally, as suggested by the members regarding credit access for youth, we have reviewed and worked on that recommendation,” said Sonam Tobgyel, Deputy Chairperson of the Good Governance Committee.
The National Council also unanimously adopted a strengthened review report on the State of Persons with Disabilities.
The Social and Cultural Affairs Committee presented the report with recommendations to improve the lives of persons with disabilities.
Similarly, the National Council adopted the recommendation of compensation-related policies for human and wildlife conflict and crop damage due to natural calamities.
The Natural Resources and Environment Committee submitted six recommendations which include harmonizing existing policies on compensation, strengthening the inter-sectorial task force for collaborative funding initiatives along with a dedicated budget, initiating an insurance scheme, allocating a sustainable compensation budget annually, strengthening the scientific approach of farming to build friendly coexistence and initiating relocation of isolated settlements under the regular Human Wildlife Conflict in collaboration with the National Land Commission.
The National Council will forward the recommendation to the government.
Similarly, the National Council adopted the Budget Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2024-2025 and the Supplementary Budget Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2023-2024.
All 23 members present, voted in favour of the two bills. The bills will now be returned to the National Assembly for further deliberations.
The National Council endorsed the 13th Five-Year Plan following the adoption of the Economic Affairs Committee’s five recommendations.
The recommendations include the requirement of details on specific plans and programme implementation for other sectors such as agriculture and livestock, tourism, and mining and manufacturing among others.
Further, the recommendations are on the need to strengthen human resources for the local government, ensuring timely completion of hydropower projects and integrating the 15 billion-ngultrum Economic Stimulus Plan into the 13th Five-Year Plan.
The recommendations will now be forwarded to the government.
Deki Lhazom, Kinzang Lhadon, Sonam Yuden, Karma Wangdi and Karma Samten Wangda
