Ensuring prosperity with Social Justice is National Aspiration: PM

Kathmandu / May 1: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that it is a national aspiration to create an egalitarian society, provide equal economic opportunities and ensure prosperity with social justice.

Extending his best wishes to the workers within the country and aboard on the occasion of the May Day 2021, Prime Minister Oli said, “In Nepal, we have been involved in the campaign for the past three years to achieve the national aspiration of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis.”

He said it was an aspiration to empower the political economic, social and cultural dimensions of all people.

“While addressing the International Labour Organisation’s centenary celebration, I had said that we have redefined the concept of ‘lifelong employment’ by the principle of ‘social security for all workers’, regardless of the nature of their works,” he added.

Recalling the latest political situation in the ruling CPN-UML, the Prime Minister said that a kind of chaos had been created in the people’s aspirations for stability and development due to the frustration and jealousy of some leaders.

“The political chaos that started at the centre at this time last year has already reached the province and local levels. The false propaganda of “regression” is creating confusion towards the government and increasing disgust towards the leaders and the party,” the Prime Minister added.

Prime Minister Oli further said, “We have ensured a fair balance between labour flexibility and social security. We have legally ended distinction between ‘formal and informal sectors.’ In this way, we have successfully completed the process of formalising the informal sector.”

Shedding lights on the government’s efforts to ensure social security of the citizens, the Prime Minister said during his tenure, the number of recipients of eight different types of social security allowance has increased to 3.6 million from 500,000.

The monthly security allowance for senior citizens, starting from Rs. 100 a month has now reached Rs. 100 a day. Free health insurance of up to Rs. 100,000 has been provided for all senior citizens, he added.

“The resolution ‘No one remains hungry, no one dies of hunger’ has been implemented in practice. Aerial rescue of pregnant and lactating mothers at risk in the remote areas has been started,” he added.

He further said while celebrating May Day last year, the country was in the middle of a lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our country is facing the same problem as the developed and developing countries across the world are facing due to the pandemic. I would like to reiterate that everyone is brought under the ambit of social security,” he added.

Talking about the second and deadliest second wave of coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Oli said a conditional injunction has been imposed from this week and he was aware of the sufferings of the working class groups both in home and abroad.

He also expressed his heartfelt solidarity with the labour class group.

Stating that the pandemic could only be controlled by good discipline, Prime Minister Oli said, “A careful behaviour is needed to balance the infection and business.” Expressing his commitment to increasing the vigilance along with the vaccination campaign, he said that the situation could be improved by breaking the chain of infection.