Kathmandu. The Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON) has decided to reject the government’s budget grant of Rs 10 million for the upcoming fiscal year.

A meeting of the working committee held on Tuesday rejected the grant given by the government. Sejon said it had rejected the grant citing four reasons.

“It has come to the notice that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has allocated Rs 10 million as operating grant to SEJON in the budget sub-heading number 21 of the annual development programme for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83 BS. ’

Sejon has not sought any such budget from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, sejon has not yet accepted any unconditional grant from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

At the same time, SEJON and its members have been constantly cautioning the government and its agencies about budget discipline and effectiveness of financial resource utilization. In this context, accepting an unconditional grant of Rs 10 million would be contrary to Sejon’s own legacy and institutional originality.

It reminded that our government, which is facing a shortage of financial resources, needs to invest heavily in the basic needs and lives of the citizens. An umbrella organization of responsible journalists has said that using the budget would be against our professional religion and dignity, leaving the option of making maximum use of the resources obtained from the people’s taxes for the benefit of the citizens.