HoR session: Deliberation continues on proposed annual policies, programmes

KATHMANDU: The House of Representatives (HoR) under the Federal Parliament continues deliberations on proposed annual policies and programmes in today’s meeting.

Parliamentarians are airing their views on party basis on the policies and programmes recently presented by President Ramchandra Paudel for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Dilendra Prasad Badu said that the Mahakali Corridor has been left out of the pride plan and it should be included in the policies and programmes as it also connects India and China. He also demanded that this scheme be included in the scheme of national pride.

Badu said that the policies and programmes of the current fiscal year should review the progress made in the same programmes in the previous year as well. He suggested formulation of a policy to include the private sector in the transmission line construction and reduce the distance of the transmission line.

Narayan Prakash Saud, also of the Nepali Congress, called for budget allocation only after ensuring sources. Calling for programmes and policies that are aimed at achieving self-reliance, he pointed out the need for separate policies regarding dual citizenships for the Non-Resident Nepalis, their residence and property ownership among others.

Likewise, CPN (UML)’s Ishwor Bahadur Rijal drew the attention of the government towards prioritizing science and technology.

Similarly, CPN (Maoist Centre)’s parliamentarian Mahindra Raya Yadav emphasized adopting Public-Private Partnership model for the country’s economic development. He also demanded streamlining the national pride projects that are currently in limbo.

Highlighting the drinking water crisis facing Nepalis even today, he said that there should be provision for clean drinking water for every Nepalis.

Furthermore, he demanded at least 10 per cent budget allocation to agriculture sector, the mainstay of Nepal’s economy.

As parliamentarians continue voicing their views, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)’s Birajbhakta Shrestha commented that there was a lack of newness and changes in the proposed policies and programmes.

He lamented that those policies and programmes failed to give due importance to issues such as economy, environment, promotion of culture and sports among others.

“The policies and programmes are nothing more than the continuation of status quo and lacked principles,” he criticized.

He further slammed the policies and programmes do not align with the aspirations of today’s youths and demands of an increasingly technology-driven global landscape.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s Whip Beena Lama emphasized effective implementation of the proposed policies and programmes.

She also underlined transparency and inclusiveness in governance and viewed that the government should prioritize sustainable development, economic reform, social security, corruption control and maintaining peace and order.

The government, she opined, should make programmes like post-disaster relief operation, integrated plan in agriculture, seed testing, and determining minimum purchase prize more effective.

CPN (Unified Socialist)’s Krishna Kumar Shrestha bemoaned that the policies and programmes had overlooked Madheshi people.

He suggested that the upcoming budget should prioritize Madhesh-centric national pride projects such as proposed Nijgadh International Airport in Bara.

Janata Samajwadi Party’s Birendra Prasad Mahato called for formation of a separate budget formulation committee to deliberate and practice budget allocation for infrastructure development sector.

The committee, he viewed, should be made such to provide suggestions to the government, control current expenditure, increase development budget, increasing the revenue scope and formulate joint policy.