HoR Session: MPs Draw Government’s Attention

Airing their views in the ‘special time’ in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, MPs called attention of the government to several topics of public life, the problems faced by the people and the urgent need to address these issues.

MPs have also demanded the empowerment of local levels through the implementation of fiscal federalism and the allocation of budget for the development of technology to help farmers in rural areas combat the menace of monkeys. They drew the government’s attention to stopping irregularities in the distribution of taxi number plates and making diplomatic efforts to resolve the issues of veteran soldiers.

Toshima Karki of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) drew the government’s attention to road safety, noting that on average eight Nepalis die daily in road accidents. She said it is a matter of regret that over 24,095 Nepalis were killed in road accidents in the last 10 years and drew the government’s attention to making road travel safe and secure by promptly forwarding the Road Safety Bill in parliament. Karki also demanded the operation of trauma centres in all seven provinces, stating that an integrated trauma policy is necessary.

Arjun Narsingh KC of the Nepali Congress drew the government’s attention to prepare, well in time, for disaster risk as the monsoon is about to begin. KC emphasised the need for coordination and cooperation among local, provincial and central governments for the management of the early warning system before disasters occur.

Padma Aryal of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) drew the government’s attention to the immediate supply of fertiliser as it is the rice planting time across the country. Despite it being the farming season, fertiliser has not yet been supplied, causing farmers to struggle to find it, she said and emphasised that measures should be taken to prevent farmland from being left barren due to a lack of fertilizer.

She called for immediate supply of fertiliser across the country. She said that the government needs to focus on controlling inflation and monitoring the market, stating the situation has become serious as the price increase has left citizens struggling to keep a fire burning at home.

Gopal Sharma drew the government’s attention to the fact that three years have passed, yet the state has not focused on the citizens affected by the earthquake in Rukum West, Jajarkot, Doti, Dailekh and other districts. He demanded that the government immediately construct housing for the earthquake victims. Demand to allocate budget for technology development Purna Prasad Limbu of the Shram Sanskriti Party demanded that descendants of Ex-British Gurkha soldiers be granted Nepali citizenship based on descent.

He said, “I request the government to make diplomatic efforts to resolve the problems of retired Ex-British Gurkha soldiers who have been protesting for years demanding equal pensions and other benefits.” Khushbu Oli of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) expressed the view that the government should not proceed in a way that strengthens the centre and weakens local levels. She urged not to see the financial equalisation grant as an easy means to cut expenditure of local levels.

Independent MP Mahabir Pun said that the National Innovation Centre has made research efforts to develop technology to stop monkey menace and drew the government’s attention to invest in this technology development initiative. “The technology to drive away monkeys has not yet been developed anywhere in the world. Funds need to be allocated for research. I have heard that the government is planning to form a committee to reduce monkey menace, and I have been asked to be part of that team as well.

Just speaking in Parliament will not eliminate the monkey menace,” he said. Ain Mahar of the CPN (UML) has drawn the government’s attention to immediately rescue 22-year-old Prem Bohara, who fell seriously ill due to high altitude sickness while collecting Yarsagumba in the high Himalayan region of Surma Rural Municipality, Bajhang.

Ganga Lakshmi Awal of the Nepali Congress highlighted the nationwide shortage of the essential drug ‘carboplatin’ for treating cancer patients and cited instances of patients being sent home without treatment, urging the government to ensure the prompt availability of this medicine.

In the meeting, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal drew the government’s attention to the concerns raised by the MPs during the urgent time of today’s House session. (RSS)