Comparing the market cost and salary of government employee of Nepal, it is very hard to sustain basic life. However, in general, it looks that everyone is living their normal life. It also seems that no one is having problem with the market cost. How is it so? This week, I just tried to compare myself with the normal budget of average earning, living and expenditure, it does not match. The salary of government employee is as follows:
Post (Nepali term in parenthesis) | Salary in Nepalese Rupees |
Secretary (Sachib) | 23000 |
Associate Secretary (Saha-sachib) | 18000 |
Assistant Secretary (Upa-sachib) | 15200 |
Section Officer (Adhikrit) | 13450 |
Officer (Nayab subba) | 9490 |
Head Clerk (Kharidar) | 8290 |
Senior Clerk (Mukhiya) | 7560 |
Junior Clerk (Bahidar) | 7000 |
Clerk (Peon) | 6600 |
Let's calculate the expenditure for a month of an average life standard Nepali. Suppose s/he is married and have two school going children. Though Nepalese live in a joint family and earner member of the family has to look after all the other members, it is not considered here.
Particular | Minimum cost in Nepalese Rupees |
Housing (3-4 rooms) | 5000 |
School fee per month for 2 children | 6000 |
Cooking gas (1 cylinder) | 1500 |
Electricity, telephone, mobile, TV cable bills | 1500 |
Local travel expenses (Lump sum) | 1500 |
Rice (25 kg at Rs 60) | 1500 |
Dal (10 kg at Rs 100) | 1000 |
Cooking oil (1 liter) | 150 |
Sugar (2 kg) | 110 |
Milk (2 pounds, Rs 15 per pound) | 900 |
Potato, vegetables, spices, salt etc (Rs 50 per day) | 1500 |
Day time food or tiffin (Khaja Rs 10 per person) | 1200 |
Total | 21860 |
The above list has not covered, books, stationeries, school dress for children, yearly admission fee in school, fruits, toilet and bathroom items (like soap, toothpaste, cleaning soaps), kitchen utensils, clothes, meat (Goat meat Rs 450 per kg or Chicken meat 240 per kg), medical expenses, extra cost during feast and festivals, cost involved for visitors, rituals costs, household equipment maintenance etc. The above list already shows that none of the people can fulfill their monthly cost with their salary. If you think that the lower status employee send their children to government school where fee is low or accommodate in single or two rooms, then you are wrong. Even peon's children are in English boarding school where the monthly fee is not less than 3000 especially in Kathmandu. If you have other ideas or way out how these people are sustaining, please let everyone know.
Comments
General Secretary: 33,635
Secretary: 31,670
Associate Secretary: 24,735
Assistant Secretary: 21,080
Section Officer: 18,790
Officer: 14,475