House discussions on all appropriation bills end
MPs stress steps for social welfare

Kathmandu, Sept.19 (RSS): Discussions on all heads under the appropriation bill, 2058 concluded at the House of Representatives meeting today.

A total of 16 MPs had taken part today in the discussions on the Prime Minister’s office, the Council of Ministers, Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Industry, Trade and Supplies, General Administration, Women, Children and Social Welfare, Land Reforms and Management, Science and Technology, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the National Planning Secretariat.

A total of 66 MPs took part in the discussions on the 11 heads in question which began four days ago.

Taking part in the discussions, the opposition MPs complained that the National Planning Commission (NPC), as before, ignored the feelings of MPs, attempts are being made to keep the radical land reforms programme in shadow and the supply of foodgrain and salt in remote districts has not been effective.

They also suggested that the budget for the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare should be increased and effective programmes devised, the bill on women’s right in parental property passed in the ongoing session, the National Women’s Commission set up as early as possible, concrete and pragmatic policies worked out for the development of industries and factories, and attention given to procession of herbs in remote hilly districts.

They also spoke of the need for the government to pursue a balanced and clear-cut foreign policy, set up diplomatic missions in Australia, Denmark and other countries where the Nepalis in large numbers are staying and operate the Ministry of Science and Technology in a well-managed and effective way.

Those expressed their views on the occasion were Vidya Devi Bhandari, Chandra Bahadur Shahi, Raghuji Pant, Durga Linkha, Rajendra Prasad Pandey, Subhash Karmacharya, Kamal Prakash Sunwar, Dharma Nath Prasad Shah, Rajendra Prakash Lohani, Tukraj Sigdel and Ganga Prasad Akela of the Main Opposition Party CPN (UML) and Ajaya Pratap Shah of the RPP.

Similarly, the ruling party MPs demanded that style of functioning of the National Planning Commission should be discussed, the Bhutanese refugee problem should be settled as quickly as possible, citizenship certificates provided to the poor, the landless and the oppressed people without delay, lands integrated to increase agriculture production, bill on women passed, trafficking in girl eliminated from the country, and chemical fertilizers and insecticide made available to the farmers in an easy way and also at cheaper rates.

Those speaking at the meeting were Khemraj Bhatta Mayalu, Kailashnath Kasaudhan, Tanka Prasad Kandel and Krishna Kishore Ghimire.

The House of Representatives will meet again at 11 am tomorrow.

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