Kathmandu. Savitri Malla, a central member of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist), has been a member of the federal parliament, the National Assembly, from Karnali Province (women’s side) for the past one year.
Malla, a candidate for the National Assembly of the then ruling coalition, defeated Bimala Shahi, leader of the CPN (UML). She started her political journey with the women’s movement in 2042 BS.
(Edited excerpt of conversation with MP Malla)
The constitution has not been fully implemented on the issue of women. Although Article 38 of the Constitution, ‘Women’s Rights’ states that ‘Women shall have the right to participate in all organs of the state on the basis of proportional and inclusive principles’, it has not been fully implemented.
Similarly, in the matter of the House of Representatives, the provision in Article 84, ‘at least one-third of the total number of members elected from each political party representing the federal parliament shall be women’, has been implemented. These issues should also be applied to the issue of formation of the Council of Ministers. It is also necessary to amend Articles 91 and 92 and make them women-friendly.
Along with the implementation of constitutional rights for oppressed communities such as women, Dalits, Madhesis, indigenous peoples, and indigenous peoples, the time has come to unite and struggle for additional rights.
The government should make and implement a plan to create employment in the country. The government should not move forward on a whim. The work of the people should be done based on needs. Now the people are looking for employment, closed industries should be opened to provide employment for them.
The government should be able to save factories that are on the verge of closure. Karnali Province, which has been left behind by the federal government, should be given priority in the budget. I am taking initiative on my behalf for the development of this province. All the honorable members representing this province should take initiative for the development of the province. My dream is to make Karnali prosperous and happy.
It has been a year since I became a member of parliament. The Constitution of Nepal has made provision for the National Assembly. The Constitution has envisioned the National Assembly as a permanent administrative organ. The Constitution itself has pointed out the need for the National Assembly to establish and develop an inclusive and democratic governance system, especially by involving marginalized and endangered communities in the governance of the nation.
We became members of parliament with the votes of the National Assembly members, Provincial Assembly members, local level chiefs and deputy chiefs. The Provincial Assembly members, local level chiefs and deputy chiefs have been elected by the electoral college, comprising at least three women, one Dalit and one person with disabilities or minority from each province, with a total of 56 members. We have 59 members in the National Assembly, including three women, nominated by the President on the recommendation of the government.
Primarily, the National Assembly addresses the fair representation of the provinces, the balance of executive power, and the balance of efficiency and effectiveness. Throughout the year, I have focused on making laws in accordance with the constitution. Along with that, I have been drawing the government’s attention to the issues of the people through the parliament. Due to the unstable government, not all laws have been made in accordance with the constitution. However, no bill tabled in the National Assembly has been stopped.
We have passed the bills that have come to this assembly only after studying and discussing them in depth. This assembly has been playing an important role in ensuring inclusiveness as much as possible while making acts, laws or rules. The main feature of the National Assembly is to conduct the assembly on time.
I am working as a member of the ‘Development, Economic Affairs and Good Governance’ Committee under the National Assembly. This committee has been working on issues related to Nepal’s economy, public finance, pre-budget discussions, governance reform and promotion of good governance, information technology and innovation.
The committee has also been working on development projects, sustainable development, coordinated and balanced development, investment and population management. The main feature of the committee is that it starts its meetings on time. So far, no meeting has had to be adjourned without reaching a quorum. There is detailed discussion on any issue. The constitution has not been fully implemented due to lack of uniformity and coordination between local, provincial and federal governments.
Articles 16 to 46 of the Constitution of Nepal have provided for 31 fundamental rights. Some laws under fundamental rights are yet to be enacted. The constitution should be amended based on the need and made relevant to the times. For example, Article 70 of the Constitution states that ‘the President and Vice President shall be of different genders or communities’. This should be amended so that one of the President and Vice President must be a woman.
However, our party has formed a task force under the leadership of leader and MP Prakash Jwala to address the issues that need to be amended in the constitution. The party will soon decide on which issues need to be amended. To further strengthen and strengthen federalism, a good conduct policy should be formulated and implemented. The Nepali people have made great sacrifices to end the monarchy. The federal democratic republic did not come about just like that. The system will not change if monarchists take to the streets.
The people’s movement of 2062/63 BS ended the monarchy and brought about a republic in the country. This rule is a rule brought about by the people themselves. The current system of governance is a system in which the son of the common people becomes the head of state. It is not easy to bring in a monarchy. Even if it comes, it will not come. There is no alternative to further modifying and strengthening this federal democratic republic and moving forward. However, in a democracy, it is possible to have different opinions.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्