सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Kathmandu. Having been in the National Assembly for a year, I feel that I have fulfilled my responsibilities honestly. This one-year term has been challenging. Speaking in the assembly does not feel like speaking outside. One should study a little more and speak in a disciplined manner in the parliament. During this one year, I was able to raise the burning problems of the people including floods, landslides, inundation, fires, earthquakes, etc. in the assembly with seriousness. I also drew the government’s attention through the parliament on issues such as women’s rights, ending violence against women, the issue of the Madhesi community, the increasing inflation in the country, corruption, peace, and security.
Similarly, I am contributing to the issue of making laws in accordance with the spirit of the constitution. It is almost 10 years since the promulgation of the constitution. Many laws under the fundamental rights of the constitution are yet to be made. Laws related to oppressed communities including women, Dalits, Madhesis, Muslims, indigenous peoples, etc. have not been made. I have been working to reach out to the people and convey their problems to the government through Parliament. I have raised my voice in Parliament many times to make the government’s policies, programs, and budget people-centered.
The responsibility of implementing the Constitution lies not only with the government, but with all organs of the state. The state is you and us. We must implement the Constitution. Even if the government does not implement the Constitution, we should say that we did not implement it. As per the Constitution, laws have not been made. The main question is how many laws that have been made have been implemented.
We have also been raising the issue of constitutional amendment in Parliament. The constitution should be amended especially for women. Women should be able to be brought to Parliament through direct elections rather than through the proportional electoral system reserved for women. Women cannot come only through proportional representation. Not just 33 percent for women. There should be an electoral system where women compete, not with men. For that, constituencies should be ensured. Constitutional rights and existing laws regarding women should be implemented. Along with that, women’s economic rights should also be increased. Women themselves should become self-reliant. For that, the government should invest in women’s education. To improve the economic condition of women and make them self-reliant, the government should give special priority to opening industries and factories for women. Women should not be dependent on men, but should become self-reliant.
To strengthen federalism, the federal government should bring in the Civil Service Act, Education Act, and Police Act, as well as laws related to federalism as soon as possible. Since our country is multilingual, multi-religious, and multicultural, all languages and ethnicities should be included. To strengthen federalism, the local level should be empowered. The federal government has a big role to play in strengthening federalism. The federal government should fulfill that role.
We talk a lot about good governance but do not implement it in practice. Ministers or party leaders talk a lot about good governance, but they are the ones who have broken it. For good governance, corruption must first be ended. Second, the federal, provincial and local governments should provide services to the people at a fast pace so that good governance is felt. Even now, the people have not been able to get services easily and on time without bribes.
The trend of Nepali youth migrating abroad has increased. To end this situation, employment opportunities should be created within the country. Second, there is a need to change the education system. An employment-oriented education system should be created. Education should be made quality. The government should also be vigilant about the safety of Nepali students going to study abroad. The recent incident of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal in India can be seen.
It seems that the attention of political parties is focused on the game of forming and toppling the government. It is unfortunate for the country that parties focus on personal interests rather than serving the people. Parties are spending time on protecting and nurturing their leaders and cadres. That should not be done. A leader is not only of one party and its cadres, but of the entire people. Political parties should fulfill the promises made to the people during elections. All political parties should come together to fulfill the assurances given to the people during elections. Protest should not be held for the sake of protest. At least, the good work done by the government should be praised.
While in parliament, initiatives should be taken to solve the problem of illiteracy seen in the Madhesi community. I have to play a role in ending poverty in the Madhesi community. Even now, women from the Madhesi community are suffering double and triple losses. Violence against women is slightly higher in Madhesi compared to other provinces. I will play a role in ending violence against women in Madhesi. As long as people are not educated, the country cannot develop. A prosperous Nepal cannot be built by weakening the Madhesi community. To fulfill the aspiration of ‘Happy Nepalis, Prosperous Nepal’ put forward by the government, the Madhesi community must be further strengthened economically, socially, politically, and culturally. The state should invest in their education, health and employment.
Introduction of National Assembly Member Pooja Chaudhary
Pooja Chaudhary, a central member of the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, has been a member of the National Assembly for the past one year. A permanent resident of Ward No. 8 of Gujra Municipality in Rautahat, Chaudhary is especially active for women’s rights.
(Edited excerpt of an interview with National Assembly Member Chaudhary by RSS correspondent Sushil Darnal)
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्