First discussion runs of budget clarification

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ A plenary meeting of the parliamentary session on Thursday carried out first discussion of draft amendments to the laws on clarification to the 2015 budget, on 2015 budget for the Human Development Fund (HDF) and on 2015 budget for social insurance fund. ________________________________________ By the amendments, the allowance has been cut for receives of the Order of Glorious Motherhood whose children are 18 years old and above. It was seriously criticized by O.Enkhtuvshin MP at the meeting, who said that this allowance is dedicated to mothers only, not to their children. "This is absolutely wrong decision," he stressed. In response, the Premier Ch.Saikhanbileg said this allowance will be continued in accordance with the principle of 1954. "The cabinet has resolved that it will be given to the Order holders until their youngest child turns 18," he added. The Minister of finance J.Erdenebat said the budget revenue is expected to decline by MNT 905.6 billion against a projected size due to economic situation. He underlined that the budgets were drawn up on a basis of reality and on avoiding impossible pledges. G.Uyanga MP also criticized that while this allowance has been cut, the Bank of Mongolia gave incentives of 120-250 million Togrog to its department heads, and 60-100 million--to section heads. It must be monitored by the audit, she said. The Finance Minister replied that principles are maintained to direct the allowance to targeted groups instead of giving it to people widely. He added that MNT 7.6 billion has been placed in the budget amendment for providing the poor and vulnerable groups with food coupons. The BoM vice president B.Javkhlan denied the news about giving big money to the administrative officials. J.Batzandan MP said the money for mothers, children and the education and health sectors should not be cut. "Cutting the expenses is not the only way to overcome the economic crisis, it can be tackled in a way of changing the economic structure. There are examples of the European countries that managed to overcome the crisis by keeping vacancies instead of minimizing them,” he said. Yo.Otgonbayar said he backs a principle of focusing the money on children of the targeted groups, and inquired from the Finance Minister about a chance to spend money for backing the vulnerable group. There is no opportunity to do so for the time being, the Finance Minister replied, and added that his Ministry considered as necessity to include only children from low-income families in the “Allowance for children” programme. After questions and answers, MPs expressed their positions and sent the draft amendments to related Standing committees for having preparing for a second discussion.