Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat has said an environment has been created to achieve a six percent economic growth rate, as the country’s economy has started returning to its form gradually.

Inaugurating the 20th annual general meeting of the Bhrikutimandap-based Kathmandu Valley Public Library Society today, Minister Mahat mentioned that the overall situation of the country’s economy is satisfactory as the arrival of tourists, remittances, share prices, revenue, and economic activities are increasing.

He clarified that anomalies in budget have been controlled by developing budget allocation systems based on guarantees of resources in multi-year projects, and the decrease in the interest rate of banks has given a positive sign. The Finance Minister shared that an improvement was made in the budget system by ending the trend of extra expenses beyond what was stipulated in the budget red book.

Society President Dr. Narayan Khadka underscored the need for the state to give priority to the library as it is the center of knowledge and information, as well as the glory of the change, civilization, and history of the nation. According to him, the government has cut down on the budget for the society; there is no land plot for the library building, and the Social Welfare Council has been increasing the rent of the library block like that for the commercial shops. Society-leading persons Mahesh Agrawal and Tirtha Raj Onta were felicitated on the occasion. The library was registered with the Kathmandu District Administration Office on September 25, 2003. More than 30,000 visitors annually come to the library.

The number of annual members is 2,400. The society started running the library in 2005. The library has received 37,614 books as donations, while 4,351 books have been purchased, according to the society. Balmeeki Vidyapeeth to give land to the libraryOn the occasion, Chief of Balmeeki Vidyapeeth, Prof. Dr Bhagawat Dhakal, proposed that a land plot can be allotted to the society for constructing a building for jointly running the library at the Vidyapeeth’s premises.

 He broached the idea of the Vidyapeeth and the Society together operating the library as the former was facing a shortage of budget for constructing its own library block and suggested the latter seek funds for constructing the library building.