Opposition proposes 18 amendments to projected State budget

Opposition parties; Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Jumhoory Party (JP) has proposed 18 amendments to the projected State budget for 2017 submitted by the government.

The amendments were proposed were proposed by the lawmakers this Wednesday after Budget Evaluation Committee sent its report on the budget the People’s Majlis floor.

Submitting the report to the Majlis floor, Chair of Budget Evaluation Committee, Vilimafannu MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik said that the report included 13 recommendations by committee members during evaluation, as well as documents which detail the concerns of independent institutions.

Opposition lawmakers proposed 18 amendments, which are:

1. Kaashidhoo MP Faisal Naseem:

MP Faisal Naseem proposed an additional MVR 2 million from the State contingency budget to the budget of Ministry of Gender and Family to develop resources of institutions which provide education and training to people with disabilities, and to train people needed to work in such institutions.

2. Meedhoo MP Rozaina Adam:

MP Rozaina proposed cutting MVR 30 million in capital expenditure from the budget of People’s Majlis administration and putting it into the budget of salaries for people doing custodial work for Ministry of Education.

3. Meedhoo MP Rozaina Adam:

MP Rozaina proposed cutting MVR 5 million from the budget of President’s official residence and putting it into the budget for capital expenditure of Family Protection Authority.

4. Vaikaradhoo MP Mohamed Nazim:

MP Mohamed Nazim proposed cutting MVR 7 million from the budget of President’s official residence and putting it into the budget for salaries of civil servants.

5. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

MP Mohamed Aslam proposed setting the criteria that anyone appointed by the government to the board of directors of any government company, a company partly owned by the government, or businesses run by the government complete the directors training program run by Capital Market Development Authority’s Corporate Directors and Strategies before they are declared eligible to the position.

He proposed terminating any current board member appointed by government who hasn’t completed the course by June 31, 2017.

6. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam

MP Mohamed Aslam proposed tabulating information in PSIP budget so that islands where PSIP has been run in, or nut run can be identified.

7. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

Allocating a monthly allowance of MVR 5,000 to people with disabilities from the budget of Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

8. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

MP Mohamed Aslam proposed an unemployment allowance of MVR 2,000.

9. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

Prioritizing providing basic services to islands without such facilities.

10. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

Quarterly submission of a quality report to People’s Majlis to assess progress of implementation of the State budget.

11. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

A grace period of 6 months before implementation of a new tax, or increase of an existing tax.

12. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

Introducing a minimum wage before January 1, 2017.

13. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

Government working on integrating its resources where possible.

14. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

Ensuring staple products are sold at the same rate throughout the country.

15. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

Ensuring water and electricity is provided at the same rate throughout the country.

16. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

Passing the budget in compliance with law on finance and law on government expenditure.

17. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

Introducing low-interest loans for housing and boat building.

18. North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam:

Providing financial assistance for food and stay of Maldivians travelling abroad for health care in exceptional cases through Aasandha.