Government is moving towards year of achievement: PM Oli

Kathmandu / Feb 15 Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government built a basis in its first year and was now moving forward towards the ‘year of achievement.

Informing the Parliament meeting today about the progress of works the government carried out in its two years’ term, PM Oli said Nepal figured among the ten countries making rapid economic progress.

“The country has been developing at a rapid pace. It is included among the 10 countries achieving rapid economic development. Its economic growth rate continues to the 6.5 per cent in three consecutive years. The total income is above 18 per cent,” he added.

Stating that poverty has decreased by 1.5 per cent, he said the population of poor has dropped to 16.5 per cent. The economic development of the States was at the same level. “Social security programme has helped reduce the poverty. Overall, the economic development itself has increased. Employment has also increased as labour market has expanded,” the Prime Minister claimed, adding that people who have freshly come in the labour market need not be unemployed.

Although most of the people coming in the labour market have been employed, there are some complications due to lack of skills and efficiency, and of life skills based education.

According to him, the government, standing on a strong foundation, has taken this year as the year of rising short-term and long-term development and that 761 governments were carrying out their works to that end.

He stated that federalism with rapid development as per the aspiration of the people has been implemented in the country after the employees adjustment and there has been clarity in terms of works along with challenges coming from the new system. The fundamental rights are on implementation after the formulation of the related laws, PM Oli asserted.

Maintaining that the government was vigorously working to increase the access of every citizen to education and health, he said, “Last year, there was rumour that people cannot even weep let alone laugh if the communists formed the government. But the reality was not like that. It is not that authoritarianism is coming putting the democracy in peril, as had been alleged.”

As the PM said, the government was moving ahead as per the new system following the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal and there was no situation of negation at present like that of three decades back. “The present administration is not like that,” he emphasized.

“Waging a movement for democracy and launching an agitation in a democracy are different things. We should be able to distinguish between a movement for democracy and an agitation in democracy,” Prime Minister Oli said, adding that the government has been moving ahead with the responsibility of fulfilling the onus of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’ to materialise the national aspirations as the moment of political movement has now ended.

Similarly, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said there would be no compromise on the matters of nation’s sovereignty and geographical integrity and the government was working to regain encroached territory of Nepal from India.

Responding to lawmakers’ queries following his address to the House of Representatives on the occasion of completion of two years of the formation of incumbent government today, the Prime Minister said the evidences showed that source of Kaligandaki river, Limpiyadhura and Lipulek area (in western Nepal) were the parts of Nepal.

In his attempt to address lawmakers’ queries in regard with the land dispute issue with India, the Prime Minister said, “To sit for talks with India in regard with the border issue is not unilateral. We are working to regain our land and new map of Nepal will be issued soon.”

Replying to a query about the possibility of constitution amendment, he said it would be amended in an appropriate time and on the basis of meaning. “We have arrived at this point by following the constitution. The constitution is not the non-amendable document. Its amendment and acceptability are different matters.”

He went on to say that the government could not intervene in issues under sub-judice at the court as they would be addressed by the independent judiciary.

The development of the nation would be ensured even by bringing about foreign investment, he added.

In his response to a question about a lack of 33 percent women’s participation in every state apparatus, the Prime Minister claimed the 33 percent women’s participation was guaranteed following a struggle of the existing major political parties, he assured of uplifting women’s status on an equal footing.

Stating the government could not go against fair interest of industrialists, he said the government wanted to collaborate with the private sector. As he said, the Gokarna Resort land was given on lease through an independent evaluation and any reported irregularities in regard with the public land would be investigated.

According to the Prime Minister, only those Nepali unaffected by the coronavirus will be brought back to home and they will be kept in isolation for some days safely to be sure that they are virus-free and none need to be worry about the process to evacuate them from China.

Following a query about the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the US-proposed assistance for Nepal, the Prime Minister said the agreement had been presented in the Parliament, seeking endorsement and it would be passed once the Speaker tabled for the decision.

The number of people going for abroad jobs has declined by 19 percent due to the creation of jobs at home, he made it clear that tax concession given to the Ncell was just the enforcement of court order, according to him.

“The government is open to discuss about the Human Rights Commission Bill,” he said adding the inflation increased by three percent in this period compared to the past. “The use of twine (rope way) has been largely undone and it will be completely removed soon.”