NA members stress upholding prestige of house

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar.1: Members of the National Assembly have advocated for upholding the integrity and prestige of the assembly. During today’s assembly meeting, departing members, whose term ends on March 3, offered their insights and recommendations.

MP Dr. Khimlal Devkota viewed his parliamentary tenure as a period of learning, advocating for timely House sessions and enhanced parliamentary oversight. He emphasized the need for balanced representation and adherence to constitutional principles.

Meanwhile, MP Deepa Gurung praised the disciplined conduct of parliamentary affairs and urged the government to be more accountable. Similarly, MP Dilkumari Thapa Rawal emphasized the importance of legislative action on fundamental rights and road safety.

Reflecting on her experience in the National Assembly and its committees, MP Indu Kadaria underscored the importance of maintaining parliamentary decorum and avoiding non-parliamentary practices. Kadaria emphasized the need for equitable speaking time for all members.

Similarly, MP Kumar Dasoudi urged the government to take issues raised in the assembly seriously, especially those concerning public welfare like education, health, and employment.

Highlighting the challenges faced by conflict-affected regions like Rolpa, Dasoudi stressed the importance of providing comprehensive support, including psychological counselling services. Additionally, he called for expediting infrastructure projects and prioritizing people’s concerns over partisan interests. 

MP Mahesh Kumar Mahara highlighted the assembly’s role in amplifying regional voices and urged the government to address public concerns promptly. MP Surya Bahadur Biswakarma underscored the importance of addressing farmers’ needs and empowering citizens.

MP Narpati Luwar urged incoming members to uphold the assembly’s dignity and ensure implementation of constitutional rights. MP Prakash Pantha stressed the parliament’s role in holding the government accountable and advocated for modernizing parliamentary procedures.

MP Hariram Chaudhary questioned the relevance of the National Assembly and urged for its dignified operation. Despite challenges, departing members expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and called for a renewed focus on public welfare and parliamentary efficacy.

Meanwhile, RSS adds, NA lawmakers, speaking in the discussions on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the upcoming fiscal year, called for emphasizing employment generation and youth mobilisation by upholding good governance.

Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat presented the Principles and Priorities of Appropriation Bill for Next Fiscal Year in the meeting of the National Assembly, the Upper House of the Federal Parliament on February 26.     

Taking part in the debate in the NA meeting on Thursday, lawmakers underscored making the budget functional and on improvement in the tendency of getting the budget passed from parliament by issuing whip, but not obeying the suggestions in the course of implementing it.

Similarly, they emphasised giving high priority to the agriculture sector, ensuring security to the health workers, making clear the responsibilities on service delivery of the three tiers of government, bringing a plan for consumption of electricity produced in Nepal within the country itself and increasing capital expenditure and revenue collection.     

Prakash Pantha, Dilkumari Rawal (Parbati) and Dr. Khimlal Devkota among other lawmakers participated in the discussions.     

Dr. Devkota on the occasion drew the attention of the government, saying those ministers who were said to participate in the meeting were not present in the meeting.     

President of the Legislation Management Committee, Jayanti Devi Rai, presented the Bill on Anti-Money Laundering and the Promotion of Business Environment, 2079 BS in the meeting today. She also presented the report of the onsite study programme on the law-making process and practices of the local levels.     

Government’s attention was also drawn on making provisions for drinking water and irrigation Similarly, the Upper House lawmakers have drawn the attention of the government towards the difficulties faced by the people for the lack of drinking water and irrigation facilities in the Tarai-Madhes region.     

They expressed their concern on this issue while speaking in the ‘zero hour’ in the meeting of the National Assembly on Thursday.     

Lawmaker Tulasa Kumari Dahal called on the government to make arrangements for providing pure drinking water to the people in the Madhes. She also stressed on conservation of the Chure ecosystem by stopping its over-exploitation and making arrangements for irrigation in the Madhes which is the ‘bread basket’ of the country.

Lawmaker Jaga Prasad Sharma called for putting to an end the trend of meagre expenditure of the budget appropriated for big projects, drawing the government’s attention to finding a solution to this problem.

Taraman Swanr called on the government to expedite the construction of the Seti and Mahakali highways considered as the backbone for the economy and development of the Sudurpashchim and to ensure budget for these road projects in the next fiscal year’s budget.

Bhagawati Neupane urged the government to develop the birthplace of the pioneer poet of Nepali as a tourism destination. Bimala Ghimire drew the attention of the government for immediately addressing the demands of farmers and the victims of usurious lending.

Lawmaker Sumitra BC called for immediately taking ahead the process for reconstruction of houses for the earthquake-affected people of Jajarkot who are still living under tents even after nearly four months since the disaster.