Lower House begins deliberations on government’s policies and programs

KATHMANDU, May 23: The House of Representatives has started discussions on the policies and programs for the fiscal year 2018/19 from today.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari had presented the government’s policies and programs through an address to the joint session of the Federal Parliament on May 21. The policies and programs aims at achieving the long-term objective of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis’.

Before this, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli presented a proposal in the today’s meeting of the House seeking the House start deliberations on the policies and programs of the government.
The government’s policies and programs for the fiscal year 2018/19 has the goal of graduating Nepal from the status of low-income country into a middle income country within the next ten years.

The Federal Parliament comprising the House of Representatives and the National Assembly are scheduled to discuss the government’s policies and programs continuously for three days beginning today.

The main opposition party in parliament, Nepali Congress, has in its initial reaction to the policies and programs criticized it as a ‘good essay’ whereas the ruling party has argued that it is oriented to people’s economic prosperity and development.
The government, through the policies and programs, has pledged to work for the people in cooperation with all sides and to ensure good governance eliminating corruption.

Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada will present the budget for the fiscal year 2018/19 on May 29, based on the government’s policies and programs.

DEUBA’S TAKE ON POLICIES AND PROGRAM

Speaking as the first speaker in the discussions on the policies and programs in the meeting of the House of Representatives which started 45 minutes behind schedule, leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party Sher Bahadur Deuba said positive results are to be seen throughout the country at present due to the liberal economic policy adopted by the Nepali Congress after the political change of 1990.

He stated that political stability has been established and the constitution implemented with the successful conduction of the three tier elections under the NC’s leadership. The main opposition party leader rapped the government’s policies and programs as lacking in clear outline for its implementation though the government has announced multitude of programs.

Pointing out that the policies and programs lacked a clear roadmap regarding the implementation of big projects of the country, he, also the former Prime Minister, said it was not necessary for the government to teach anyone about the nation and nationality as all the Nepalis are nationalists.
He said the government’s policies and programs has missed the point in moving ahead by taking the private sector along and it also lacked plan to attract investment.

FORMER SPEAKER GHARTI SAYS POLICIES ON RIGHT TRACK

Former Speaker and an MP from the Communist Party of Nepal, Onsari Gharti said the government’s policies and programs was socialism-oriented in line with the letter and spirit of the constitution. She said the plan of doubling the per capita income in five years was on the right track.

Stating it was important that the policies and programs has incorporated the point on ending all forms of monopoly, she stressed on the need of moving ahead taking the country’s geo-political situation as an opportunity rather than a challenge.
The former Speaker said more discussions needed to be held as to how the country could take the maximum benefit from both the neighboring countries.

MPs decry policies and programs for not mentioning constitution amendment
Dr Minendra Rijal of the Nepali Congress complained that the Speaker and the National Assembly chair should have been addressed as ‘honorable’ while presenting the government’s policies and programs but it was not the case.

Rijal said this while presenting an amendment motion on the government’s policies and programs in the meeting of the House of Representatives. He said there should not be any lapses from any side in the coming days regarding safeguarding and respecting the achievements made from a big movement and sacrifice.

Seventeen MPs from the Nepali Congress party including Dr Rijal have registered notification of amendment to the policies and programs.

He said although it is mentioned in the policies and programs that agriculture would be commercialized, organic farming would be promoted as a campaign and irrigation programs expanded, it lacked clear-cut outline for their implementation.

Rijal said it is necessary to pay attention to the voice that might come from the Tarai region while constructing the highway in the name of leader Madan Bhandari as a competitor to the Hulaki highway. He added that the policies and programs was pessimistic for the people, charging that it was disrespectful to the voters. He suggested to the government to bring the budget based on the ground reality and not by selling dreams.

Pradip Yadav, Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Surendra Kumar Yadav and Renuka Gurung of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal said a lot of doubts remained regarding the implementation of the policies and programs which promises to bring prosperity in five years. They regretted that the topic of constitution amendment was not mentioned in the policies and programs.

Similarly, Anil Kumar Jha of the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal said the policies and programs were discriminatory even when it comes to paying tributes to martyrs. He said all the people attaining martyrdom in all types of movement should be given equal treatment and respect. He argued that peace and stability could not be established if the constitution were not amended to address the demands of the Madhesis and minorities. RSS