KATHMANDU, March 15 -- The government's move to institutionalize lifelong state benefits for former VVIPs including the president, vice president, prime minister, chief justices, parliament speakers, among others has sparked widespread public outrage.

Ordinary public argue that the decision places an undue financial burden on taxpayers, while politicians across party lines have also voiced opposition, calling for the revocation of all benefits except security provisions. There is an overwhelming public demand that all benefits given to former high-ranking officials, except security, should be revoked instead of institutionalizing these benefits for their whole life.

Although there is no law to provide such privilege to former VVIPs, the...