NGOs for proper budgetary measures for development

Several leading non-government organisations yesterday submitted a set of recommendations to the Finance Minister AMA Muhith and urged him to address their demands in the budget for smooth development of the country.
They also urged the finance minister to pay more attention to the people with disabilities in the country who are being neglected in different ways.
Representatives of six leading NGOs -- Together with Working Children, Gender and Development Alliance, Governance Advocacy Forum, Solidarity for Marginal People, National Disabled Forum and Campaign for Good Governance (SUPRO) -- met the Finance Minister at his office and placed their recommendations on behalf of the working NGOs.
The NGO leaders urged him to keep education and health sectors out of the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) and to shorten the timeframe for whitening black money.
Shishir Shil, representative of `All-party Parliamentary Group', said they do not favour whitening black money and sought the finance minister's initiative to keep the opportunity only for one year instead of three years.
Mohsin Ali, coordinator of `Governance Advocacy Forum' demanded more allocation for the institutions under local government for democratic decentralisation and to establish a truly strong local government.
The allocation for local government institutions in the proposed budget is only 1.43 percent of total budget.
Chairman of `National Disabled Forum' Khondker Jahurul Alam said the government should take budgetary measures for introducing special bus for the persons with disabilities and also ensuring their healthcare and participation in sports and cultural activities.
Ratan Sarker of `Together with Working Children' said a balanced and effective allocation is needed in the budget for the children to ensure their rights.
He also demanded adequate allocation for child labour so that they could be provided with education, alternative livelihood skills and protection, and also participation in development activities.
Muhith assured the NGOs of addressing their demands and sought their cooperation for implementation of the budget.