A total of nine oral questions were asked to the Cabinet Ministers today during Question Hour.  Four questions to the Finance Minister, four to the Minister for Agriculture and Forests and one question to the Minister for Labour and Human Resources.

The Finance Minister was questioned on the Ministry’s plans and strategies to revise the existing Rural Life Insurance Scheme, updates on the resurfacing of Samtse-Phuentsholing National Secondary Highway, reasons for Non-performing loan (NPL), and the possibility of refunding the extra land tax being paid by the people of Lhayulkha village who have not benefitted from  the Thromde development plan.

On the revision of the Rural Life Insurance Scheme, the Minister submitted that the revision is being worked on as of now and expressed his hope of it being implemented soon. Pertaining to the reasons for Non-performing loan (NPL), the Minister submitted people avail loan without carrying out cost benefit analysis. He also submitted that the bank’s loan appraisal system seems a little bit weak. The House was also informed that the resolution to reschedule could benefit both the lender and the borrowers. 

The questions to the Minister for Agriculture and Forests were on issues ranging from the use of endowment funds to secure crops and livestock for the people, plans to set up a milk packing unit, updates on the proposal submitted for the community-based Riverbed Surface Collection Project by the people of four Gewogs under Samdrupcholing Drungkhag, and policies to resolve the difficulties faced by the Gewog Administration in getting approval and consent from concerned individuals to construct farm roads.

On the plans to set up a milk packing unit for the benefit of the people in order to improve the country's economy and promote agricultural and livestock products, the Minister submitted that there are almost 190 farmers groups, several highlander farm shops, and yogurt processing units being established as of now. He also submitted that a milk processing unit is also established in Samdrup Jongkhar and that the Government carries out works based on the activities prioritized by the Local Government. Therefore, the Minister said that the government would look into setting up milk packaging units if the proposal came from the local government. Regarding the difficulties faced by the gewog administration in getting approval and consent from concerned individuals to construct farm roads, the Minister submitted that the Local Government has the power to consent or approve the construction of the farm roads for the benefit of the public.

The Minister for Labour and Human Resources in response to plans to increase the minimum wage rate to Nu. 450/- for the National Work Force (NWF) replied that the Ministry has written to the Ministry of Finance and the minimum wage rate for the National Work Force (NWF) will be increased when the country’s economy improves. He also submitted that the work for the revision of the National Minimum Wage rate is also ongoing as of now.