March 1: National Assembly lawmakers have called for giving emphasis on employment generation and mobilization of youth by upholding good governance. They made such remarks during a discussion on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the upcoming fiscal year.

Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat had presented the Principles and Priorities of Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year in the meeting of the National Assembly, the upper house of the Federal Parliament, on February 26.

Taking part in the debate in the NA meeting on Thursday, lawmakers underscored on making the budget functional.

Similarly, they emphasized on giving high priority to the agriculture sector, ensuring security to the health workers, making clear the responsibilities on service delivery of the three tiers of government, bringing a plan for consumption of electricity produced in Nepal within the country itself and also on increasing capital expenditure and revenue collection.

Prakash Pantha, Dil Kumari Rawal (Parbati), Dr Khimlal Devkota among other lawmakers participated in the discussions.

Dr Devkota on the occasion drew the attention of the government, saying those ministers who were supposed to participate in the meeting were not present in the meeting.

President of the Legislation Management Committee, Jayanti Devi Rai, presented the Bill on Anti-Money Laundering and the Promotion of Business Environment, 2079 BS during Thursday’s meeting. She also presented the report of the onsite study programme on law-making process and practices of the local levels.

Similarly, the upper house lawmakers also drew the attention of the government towards the difficulties faced by the people for lack of drinking water and irrigation facilities in the Terai-Madhesh region.

They expressed their concern on this issue while speaking in the 'zero hour' of the National Assembly meeting on Thursday.

Lawmaker Tulasa Kumari Dahal called on the government to make arrangements for providing pure drinking water to the people in the Madhes. She also stressed on conservation of the Chure ecosystem by stopping its over-exploitation and on making arrangements for irrigation in the Madhes which is the 'breadbasket' of the country.

Lawmaker Jaga Prasad Sharma called for putting an end to the trend of meager expenditure of the budget allocated for big projects, drawing the government's attention to finding a solution to this problem.

Taraman Swanr called on the government to expedite the construction of the Seti and Mahakali highways, considered as the backbone for the economy and development of the Sudurpaschim Province and to ensure a budget for these road projects in the next fiscal year.

Bimala Ghimire drew the attention of the government for immediately addressing the demands of farmers and the victims of loan sharks.

Lawmaker Sumitra BC called for immediately taking ahead the process for reconstruction of houses of the earthquake-affected people of Jajarkot who are still living under tents even after nearly four months since the disaster. -- RSS