Kathmandu, Nov. 9 -- The government's decision to accept a Rs13 billion loan for the implementation of the Prime Minister's Employment Programme has been heavily criticised, as the programme has been controversial for its shoddy implementation.

A Cabinet meeting this week decided to accept a soft loan of Rs13.62 billion from the International Development Association, a part of the World Bank, in order to promote youth employment under the World Bank's Youth Employment Transformation Initiative Project.

But labour analysts say this loan can only be justified if the employment programme is improved in the days to come.

"The need for the loan can only be proven right if the whole programme is aimed at asset creation, not just by ensuring ...