NA Begins Discussions on New Policy and Programmes, Three Amendments Registered

17 May, Kathmandu : The National Assembly (NA) has started discussions on the government policy and programmes for the fiscal year 2077/078 BS. President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Friday presented the government new policy and programmes before a joint session of the Federal Parliament.

At the beginning of the today’s meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokhrel, on behalf of the Prime Minister, presented a proposal seeking the commencement of discussions over the fresh policy and programmes.

Six Upper House members have registered three amendments on the policy and programmes. Both Houses are scheduled to discuss on the policy and programmes till Tuesday. The government through the policy and programmes stated that setting the country free from COVID-19 crisis was its first priority.

In the meeting that commenced 45 minutes late of the schedule, main opposition Nepali Congress (NC)’s Anita Devkota presented the amendment proposal over the policy and programmes. As she said, new policy and programmes were capable of pushing those Nepalis desperate to return homes to get rid off from adversities and hunger to deposition instead of delivering some words in relief and they need to be revised.

Jitendra Narayan Dev of the same party said the policy and programmes were supposed to accord priority for substantive plans to control the crisis caused by COVID-19, prevent the risk of food crisis and possible hunger and to boost up nation’s economy through the promotion of agriculture. ”But they are unnecessarily lengthy lacking specific aims and direction,” he said, trying to justify his amendment.

Umesh Jung Rayamaji and Prakash Pantha from the NC, Samajabadi Party’s Pramila Kumari, and Rastriya Janata Party’s Shekhar Kumar Singh are other members who registered the proposals, seeking amendments to the new policy and programmes.

They have highlighted the need of incorporating issues like the extension of coverage of COVID-19 testing, easy availability of food and other daily essentials during the crisis, incentive and insurance facilities for those working at the front-line in the fight against coronavirus, focused programmes, improvement in the relief programmes meant for victims of COVID-19 and the supply of fertilisers and seeds to farmers on time.