Setting Priorities
PRIME Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has set the priority to
solve the problem relating to citizenship very soon and distribute the land to the
landless as a part of the government’s commitment to uplift the poor and bring them
into the mainstream of national development. Speaking in the House of Representatives, the
Lower House of Parliament, Prime Minister Deuba has clearly spoken of his plan to
distribute citizenship certificates to all the Nepalese prior to distributing land to the
landless people. As both citizenship as well as landless issues are the burning problems
of the nation, the Prime Minister, soon after coming to power, has shown strong commitment
to solve them simultaneously. Slightly over two-weeks ago, Prime Minister Deuba had
announced some revolutionary social and economic reforms including land reforms and
ceiling on land holding. This revolutionary and progressive move of the government has
been hailed from various sectors. The land reform programme aims at properly utilising
land, increasing national productivity and making the landless people master of the land.
The land reform had long been due as most of the political parties had been demanding for
reforms on the land system. But the present government alone demonstrated courage to bring
about such scheme. The government has already registered a Bill concerning land reforms in
the Parliament Secretariat, which is expected to get parliamentary approval in the present
20th session. It is the responsibility and duty of the government to ensure the
marginalised people especially those who are below the poverty line that the state is
serious enough to do something for their welfare. All citizens have the right to have
citizenship and own land for their dignified survival. There are many people in the
country who are yet to be given citizenship certificates. Although the government has
announced its scheme to give land to the landless, it would be difficult to distribute
land to the genuine landless people if the problem of citizenship is not solved. It seems
that the Prime Minister has clearly understood the problems of the nation and has said
that no Nepali would be deprived of citizenship certificates. If both citizenship and
landless problems were resolved simultaneously, several other social and economic problems
would be solved automatically. The government has shown the commitment and set right
priorities for the solution of national problems. Now it is the responsibility of
opposition parties to extend cooperation to the government for making the land reform
scheme a success for the cause of the nation and the people.
Other Story
|
