Addressing the first meeting of the newly-elected House of Representatives (HoR) on Monday, top leaders of all political parties represented in federal parliament have expressed commitment to work for the cause of people and the country. As the five-year term of the new parliament officially begins with the meeting, the countdown of the days for the lawmakers to fulfill their promises also starts earnestly. A fully functioning parliament is what it requires for them to be able to fulfill people’s wishes and aspirations. Since the parliament elected after the promulgation of new constitution through the Constituent Assembly in 2015 saw various ups and down with the split of the then ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and subsequent political turmoil in the country, the onus lies on the newly-elected lawmakers to keep their parties united and work for the cause of the people they represent. All lawmakers should work together to make the 275-member federal parliament a common platform to raise the voice of ordinary people living in every nook and corner of the country and instill in them hopes for change, a change for better days in their life.

There are a few things the new parliament needs to do to make it effective. A fully functioning parliament should serve as a platform to foster an environment of respectful and productive dialogue. The role of lawmakers including the prime minister is very important to make the functioning of parliament effective. Lawmakers, who are supposed to represent their constituencies and work on behalf of the greater good of the country, should engage in respectful and productive dialogue with each other in order to effectively address the issues facing their constituencies and the country as a whole. They should work together to prioritize the needs and concerns of the people in parliament, become responsive to the needs and concerns of the people and prioritize policies and legislation that will have positive impacts on their lives. It is equally necessary for parliament to promote transparency and accountability in its decision-making processes and hold itself accountable to the people to whom it is meant to serve. Parliament is also responsible for making important decisions that affect the lives of citizens. It is essential for parliamentary proceedings to be open and transparent, and for members of parliament to be accountable for their actions.

One of the beautiful aspects of democracy is that it provides space for compromise and consensus. Parliament that has representation of people with different values and beliefs serves as a platform to work together and build consensus to effectively address complex challenges and find solutions that are in the best interest of the people and the country. It should promote active participation of citizens in the democratic process, engage constituents through public hearings on important legislation, and use social media and other digital tools to connect with the public. This will help make the parliament representative of the diverse communities it serves. This may involve actively recruiting and supporting the participation of underrepresented groups, such as women, minorities, and youths. Another important area that the parliament needs to make an urgent intervention is to ensure good governance, which is essential to ensure smooth functioning of any parliamentary system. This includes upholding the rule of law, respecting human rights, and maintaining the integrity of public institutions. In all these, the role of individual lawmakers is vitally important. All members of parliament need to stay informed about the issues facing the country and actively engage with their constituents in order to effectively represent their voices and concerns. The lawmakers should not just act as a rubber stamp of what the top leaders of their parties say or want to do. Many believe that all the ills that plague our parliamentary system are caused due to lack of positive intervention on the part of lawmakers to their party leadership. As a newspaper, we wish to see active and meaningful participation of lawmakers in the parliament to make it effective in delivering the promises to bring meaningful changes in the lives of the people.

 
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