The office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers will coordinate in the tasks.[break]
The government has pledged to conclude the ongoing compilation of voter´s list being carried out by the Election Commission. “To modernize the election process and method, latest information technology will be brought to use to make elections more credible,” stated the document read out by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav in parliament on Sunday.
The document states that government is committed to initiate works to provide biometric national identity cards to all Nepali citizens. The cards will help citizens to avail of various services and privileges.
The government has decided to prepare a 10-year master plan for the promotion and strengthening of the Nepal Army (NA) to secure vital installations and national heritage, including carrying out of general security responsibilities and effectively conducting rescue operations.
It government also promises to formulate necessary policy and programs for institutionalizing insurance policy for the journalists.
The government also commits to formulate strategies and programs in order to complete the work under Lumbini Development Master Plan. “The concept of regional development covering Ramgram in Nawalparasi, Devdaha in Rupandehi and Tilaurakot in Kapilvastu will be brought into implementation, thus expanding the coverage of Lumbini Area,” stated it.
It has said a high powered Karnali Development Commission will be constituted for the overall development of Karnali.
“In order to build sustainable peace, a program of “peace campaign at people´s initiative” will be launched so as to make the system of conflict resolution more effective,” it said.
The government has also committed to form a commission to investigate into cases of disappearances and said that a high level truth and reconciliation commission will be formed in order to make public the status of citizens disappeared in course of the conflict, thereby guaranteeing transitional justice.
As demanded by Madhes-based political parties, the government has promised to construct Martyrs´ Park in the Tarai to honor the martyrs who laid their lives for the establishment of democracy and republic in the country at different periods.
Maoists dissatisfied
Leaders from the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) and the major ruling partner UCPN (Maoist) have expressed dissatisfaction over the government´s policy and programs. Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel said there is no point in being happy with the policy and programs. “It has failed to meet our aspirations,” Gajurel told Republica.
Document of gossip: NC
NC leaders have expressed mixed reaction. NC lawmaker and former finance minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said the policies and programs do not have a sense of direction and seriously lacks focus. “The policy and programs fail to address current serious economic issues such as inflation and insecure investment climate,” he said.
Dr Mahat said the policy and programs are full of clichés and rhetoric of the Maoists.
“The government´s policy and programs are heavily influenced by Maoist propaganda and agenda,” he said. “The policy and programs are also conspicuously silent on fundamental values of democracies such as pluralism, free press and independent judiciary.”
Likewise, another NC lawmaker Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat termed the budget a document of gossip. “The policy and programs have lofty objectives. They are unlikely to come into implementation,” he said.
However, Nandan Kumar Dutta, deputy parliamentary party leader of opposition Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Republican (MPRF-R), expressed satisfaction over the government´s policy and programs.
MPRF-R is a constituent of United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), which had earlier threatened to obstruct parliament if the government failed to address their demands in the new budget.
“It is very positive that the government has given priority to the construction of postal road, railway in Tarai region and allocation of budget targeting families of the martyrs of the Madhes movement,” Dutta told Republica.
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