Lawmakers express objection to lifelong benefits to former VIPs

Kathmandu, March 16: Lawmakers, speaking in the 'emergency time' in today's meeting of the House of Representatives, expressed dissatisfaction over the issue of providing life-long benefits to former distinguished office-bearers.    

Nepali Congress lawmaker Ram Krishna Yadav has said that the facilities should not be provided to former distinguished office-bearers.

He said it was not appropriate to provide life-long benefits to former VIPs at a time when the country's economy was weak.

"It has been reported in the newspapers that a law is being made to provide life-long benefits to former distinguished officials. The country is passing through a weak economic condition. In such a situation, the issue of giving lifetime benefits to former distinguished officials is untenable,” he said. 

Stating it has come to light that a draft law was being prepared to include life allowances for former presidents, prime ministers, former speakers, former national assembly chairpersons, former constituent assembly chairpersons and former chair of the council of ministers, Yadav argued that such issues should not come up in the context of the country's weak economic condition, people not getting even basic medical treatment and youth exodus to foreign countries due to unemployment at home.

He said it is heard that a draft law is being made to provide lifelong allowances to the ex-VVIPs, house rent, personal vehicles and employees and assistant staff for their personal secretariat. Stating that some elements are trying to weaken the federal democratic republican constitution, he drew attention to be aware of it. 

Devendra Paudel of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) expressed dissatisfaction over the proposal to provide service facilities to the former distinguished office-bearers at a time when the country's economy is weak and the government should instead provide relief to the people.    

Prakash Jwala of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) opined that the former distinguished office-bearers should not be given facilities in such a way that the state will have to bear additional financial burden when the country's economy was deteriorating.    

Chief Whip of CPN (UML) Parliamentary Party Mahesh Kumar Bartaula drew the government's attention to the damage caused to various wards due to the recent storm in Thaha Municipality of Makawanpur. He demanded immediate relief to the affected locals.    

Stating that around 100 houses in ward 3, 4 and 5 of the municipality have been damaged by the recent hailstorm, he drew the attention of the Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard. (RSS)