NA continues deliberations on government policies and programmes

KATHMANDU: MAY. 27 – The National Assembly (NA) continues deliberations on the government policies and programmes for the fiscal year 2079/80 BS (2022-23), today too. The government policies and programmes were presented before a joint session of the Federal Parliament by the President on Tuesday and the parliament deliberations on them kicked off Thursday.

In today’s session of the upper house, NA member Dr Bimala Rai Poudyal said the government policies and programmes were theoretically lengthy and thus required amendments. Praising the continuity of the good efforts of the previous government, she drew the government’s attention to establishing an organic fertilizer factory.

Krishna Prasad Poudel assessed the policies and programmes capable of promoting timely capital expenditure, recognizing the people under the poverty line and improving their livelihood, strengthening the capital market and utilizing the insurance amount for self-employment opportunities and production. He advised introducing and implementing a ‘chain of supplies’ in agriculture.

Dil Kumari Rawal Thapa alleged that the government’s new policies and programmes failed to encourage the public much.

She sought an investigation to all cases of corruption.

Taraman Swanr was of the view that the nation’s economy hit by the COVID-19 pandemic was further affected by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the policies and the policies and programmes that came amidst such challenges were objectives. He took the time to advise the government to focus on concluding the remaining task of the peace process soon and find a solution to the issue in the supplies of chemical fertilizer.

Mahesh Kumar Bohara commented that the policies and programmes failed to assimilate the need for a socialist-oriented economy as per the spirit of the constitution. As he said, the policies and programmes addressed nothing about the martyrs and those left injured and disabled during the course of political changes in the country.

Hiradevi Gautam accused the government of being failed to come up with substantive policies and programmes to be serious about the conditions of the poor and indigent communities.

Singha Bahadur Bishwakarma explained that the policies and programmes addressed the people of grass root level and it was indeed welcoming that it had incorporated the issues of women, children, senior citizens, dalits and suppressed community and the foreign employment issue.

Bina Pokhrel insisted that the budget should cover all issues incorporated by the policies and programmes while Sharada Devi Bhatta said the policies and programmes failed to realise the need of ending violence against women prevalent in the society.

Rajendra Laxmi Gaire stressed on the need for systematic urban development with the proper management of water supplies, sewage and road facilities.

She demanded the effective implementation of the women’s right to pass on the citizenship of offspring.

Likewise, Jag Prasad Sharma backed the policies and programmes citing that they were capable of concluding the peace process. “The targets of increasing production and reducing imports are highly positive.”

Khimlal Bhattarai said the local level elections could not be held peacefully and demanded the removal of the words ‘peaceful’ and ‘impartial’ from the policies and programmes. As he assessed, the new policies and programmes failed to create a foundation for a socialism-oriented economy.

Jitendra Narayan Dev argued that policies and programmes were bought by keeping production and agriculture in the centre. “Focus on the building of a resilient economy and the priorities to the energy, industry and employment sectors are welcoming.”

The NA has two days, yesterday and today, for deliberations on the government policies and programmes.