Policies and programmes: Upper House lawmakers air differing opinions

KATHMANDU: The government policies and programmes presented for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 have received mixed reactions from the members in parliament.

The lawmakers from ruling parties have said the new policies and programmes are capable of instilling a ray of hope among the people while the opposition lawmakers have said the policy and programme document has nothing new.

In a meeting of the National Assembly today, the lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre) were of the view that the government fresh policies and programmes had been successful in addressing entire issues in a balanced way while main opposition CPN (UML) said they were the continuity of the past as they had been prepared with a traditional approach.

They advised the government to incorporate relevant issues missing in the policies and programmes in the budget.

Jitendra Narayan Dev of Nepali Congress supported the policies and programmes, citing that they were prepared with hard work. Assessment of economic problem, efforts to address them, stress on improvement of diplomatic relations and programmes to promote good government and corruption prevention are good aspects of the policies and programmes, according to the lawmaker who sees need of active roles from all quarters for the implementation.

“Programmes relating to agriculture and tourism development are positive,” he said, adding that a focus on productive economic would help achieve the prosperity in the nation.

The policies and programmes have incorporated encouraging and important programmes like the setting up of the support price of major productions within the country, the management of fertilisers and the opening of fertiliser industries at home, said he said.

Khim Lal Devkota of the CPN (Unified Socialist) and Mahesh Kumar Mahara of the CPN (Maoist Centre) stressed the need for the practical implementation of the policies and programmes. “It will contribute to the country’s economic prosperity by implementing them,” he said. The announcement of building the Nijgadh International Airport is positive, said Devkota.

The policies and programmes have created new hopes in people, viewed Narayan Prasad Dahal, adding that bringing the budget for the coming fiscal year, 2023/24 accordingly would add energy. CPN (Maoist Centre)’s Gopi Bahadur Sarki Achhami supported and praised the policies and programmes as having prioritised agriculture, improvements in the national economy, and the creation of job opportunities.

CPN (UML) lawmaker Devendra Dahal criticised the government’s policies and programmes for lacking any new programmes. He said they were a continuation of the past programmes brought for the purpose of cheap popularity. The policies and programmes have failed to incorporate the problem identification and setting priorities and the goals.

Sharada Devi Bhatta of the same party said the policies and programmes have failed to address the present economic crisis.

Rajendra Laxmi Gaire of CPN (Unified Socialist) said the policies and programnmes have been designed to achieve the sustainable development goals. She stressed on their effective implementation.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Narayan Datta Mishra opined that overall the government policies and programmes were good and stressed on their practical implementation.

Udaya Bahadur Bohara of Unified Socialist expressed the belief that several new programmes included in the policies and programmes will support the economy. He mentioned that reduction in government expenditure and increment in development expenses were welcome topics.

Bhuwan Bahadur Sunar of Maoist Centre opined that inclusion of new and popular programmes was a welcome move.

UML’s Gopal Bhattarai called for review of the programmes of the previous years, saying the government’s policies and programmes lacked a definite goal.
Radheshyam Paswan of Maoist Centre pointed out the need of giving priority to the policies and programmes in the budget as well and their effective implementation.

Three lawmakers register amendment proposal

Three lawmakers from the upper house of the Federal Parliament have registered amendment proposals to the Policies and Programmes for Fiscal Year 2023/24 presented in the Parliament by the government.

Those registering amendment proposal are CPN (UML)’s Tulasa Kumari Dahal, Bimala Ghimire and Dr Bimala Rai Paudyal. Lawmaker Bhagawati Neupane presented the amendment proposal on behalf of Dahal, Ghimire and Paudyal.