KATHMANDU, Aug 15: The House of Representatives in its meeting today approved separate proposals seeking passage on some bills and discussions on some others.
The lower house of the federal parliament unanimously passed the proposal seeking approval of the Public Security (Third Amendment) Bill, 2075.
Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa had presented a proposal to this effect in the meeting.
The House also approved another proposal tabled by the Home Minister seeking discussions on Public Security (Third Amendment) Bill 2075 along with the report of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee.
The House meeting also unanimously approved the proposal presented by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Prasad Adhikari seeking discussions on the Convention Providing for the Integration of Laws on the Topic of International Air Transport.
Similarly, the lower house of parliament today approved unopposed the proposal seeking consideration on the Consumer Rights Protection Bill, 2075. Minister for Commerce and Supplies Matrika Prasad Yadav had presented the proposal.
Stack of bills stalled in National Assembly
Putting their views on the theoretical aspects of the bill in the discussions, lawmakers said that the government has not been able to arrest the large scale black marketers, the consumer court has been made weak, the court was run by administrators and not experts, and that there was no provision for affidavit in the court. They also complained about the growing problem of food adulteration and other anomalies in the market which were hampering the consumers' health and violating their rights.
Replying to questions raised in course of the discussions, Minister Yadav said the bill has been brought with the objective of promoting the consumers rights and use of quality goods.
Likewise, the House unanimously approved the proposal seeking consideration on Pension Fund Bill, 2075 which was presented by Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada.
Taking part on the discussions on the theoretical aspects of the bill, lawmakers suggested that pension should be increased only up to five years, making special provisions to alleviate the difficulties that arise with increasing age of pensioners and providing the old-age allowance and widow allowance along with the pension.
Finance Minister Khatiwada, responding to the questions raised by MPs during the discussions, said that pension is one among the many means of social security and it did not include all as it is given only to the government employees after they retire from service.
Earlier, the House of Representatives had approved unopposed the proposal seeking consideration on the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Bills, 2075.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population, Upendra Yadav, had presented the proposal.
Putting their views on the theoretical aspects of the bill, MPs complained that a mechanism for the implementation of the reproductive rights was not put in place. They also suggested including provisions in the bill for assigning at least one doctor in places having a population of 1,000. The lawmakers said that it would be possible to implement the safe motherhood and reproductive rights only when education and health services are free.
They also said that foreign investment should not be allowed in the education and health sectors and that maternity leave should be given to women working in the agriculture sector and as domestic workers. The lawmakers also demanded providing nutritious food to the poor and vulnerable sections of society.
Responding to the questions raised by MPs during the discussions on the proposal, DPM Yadav said the bill has been presented keeping in mind the health of the mother and the child. He said the bill would help in reducing abortions and uncontrolled births. The Health Minister also expressed the belief that the bill would help reduce the maternal and child mortality rate.
He also shared on the occasion that a basic health center and birthing center would be set up at each ward of the local level.
The House of Representatives shall next meet at 1 pm on August 17. RSS
