United Marxist-Leninist economists this week revealed their cure for Nepal's budget blues, stressing that government should not let recurrent expenses cross Rs 52 billion. "We cannot let expenses gallop ahead in the name of security," Bharat Mohan Adhikary told reporters. "There's also reconstruction to think about." For the time being, the UML wants government to show that it is serious by reducing its oversized cabinet, curtailing foreign junkets of ministers and public officials, and even lowering salaries of ministers, MPs and public employees. Government estimates that economic growth this year may be around one percent, forcing it to borrow heavily just to meet the recurrent spending.