KATHMANDU: The government has allocated Rs. 26.75 billion for vaccination against coronavirus to all citizens.

Unveiling the budget for the fiscal year 2021/22, Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel informed that Rs. 26.75 billion has been allocated for the vaccination drive.

Finance Minister Paudel has said that the government will waive all taxes levied on equipment brought by hospitals for installing oxygen plants.

He also said that an arrangement has been made to provide a 50 percent subsidy to the private as well as community hospitals for installing oxygen plants.

Likewise, the government has also decided to waive the taxes on the purchase of medicines.

Meanwhile, the government has also decided to establish a 300-bed hospital in Kathmandu.

The government has decided to provide Rs 12,000 to the health volunteers as a transport allowance.

Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel said the government has decided to increase the allowance of 55,000 health workers. Earlier, the health workers used to receive Rs 3,000 as a transport allowance.

Similarly, the government has increased the allowance given to senior citizens by 33 percent.

Announcing the budget for the coming fiscal year, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel said that the allowance has been increased by 33 percent to Rs 4,000 per month.

The government has also made an arrangement to provide a loan of up to Rs 2.5 million on the security of educational certificates.

Making the budget for the fiscal year 2021/21 on Saturday, Minister for Finance Bishnu Poudel announced that Rs. 2.5 million on the security of educational security certificate.

Similarly, he announced that each student will be provided up to Rs 80,000 loan to procure a laptop under the condition that the loan will be cleared within two years.