Tenth plan draft is out, poverty at priority

Thimphu, February 22: The Gross National Happiness Commission, the re-Christianized of the Planning Commission, has unveiled the draft of Tenth Plan (July 2008 –June 2013) at the eve of the 10th round table meeting of the donors held in Thimphu on 17 and 18 of February.

Of this Nu 62.06 billion is allocated for current expenditure and Nu 79.63 billion for capital investments. For capital investments, external resources of around Nu 66.4 billion is expected to be mobilized through grant and loans, leaving a resource gap of Nu 13.2 billion.
 
The government estimates that domestic revenues will be sufficient to fund only around 46.3 percent of the total plan outlay and external assistance of Nu 56 billion will be required to meet its capital expenditures.

Major hydro-power projects such as the Punatsangchhu and the Dagachu, have been excluded from the budget framework since they are solely funded by Indian government.

The government aims to reduce the poverty rate from 23.2 percent in 2007 to below 15 percent by 2013.

The health and education sector will receive 24 percent, transport communications and public works 20.54 percent and the agriculture sector at around 10 percent.

The GDP growth is expected to reach 9 percent. Bhutan News Service