KATHMANDU, AUGUST 8

Lawmakers have pressed the idea of having a sole powerful Constitutional Commission to promote gender equality and social inclusion.

They have proposed to establish a single powerful commission to work in the area of social inclusion with effectiveness.

Taking part in a discussion organised by the Women and Social Committee, House of Representatives, they were of the view that there was need to establish a powerful commission with representation of all instead of having a separate commission representing distinct class and community, geography or regions.

The meeting focused on the review of report of the National Inclusion Commission for the fiscal year 2021-22 and discussed implementation strategy with regard to programmes endorsed for the current fiscal year.

Nanda Lal Roka Chhetri said just the establishment of the commission would not suffice to meet the goals in the target sector. It requires sufficient budget and government facilitation to deliver results.

Her argument was that a single commission with the representation of all castes and communities should be established to deal with gender equality and social inclusion issues. Kumari Meche proposed to establish a powerful commission by integrating all seven commissions while Shiv Kumar Mandal stressed the need of socio-economic and cultural lives of all castes and communities.

Laxmi Pariyar said the National Inclusion Commission had failed to be inclusive, while Narayan Prasad Khatiwada also echoed the need of a powerful commission.

Inclusion Commission Chair Ram Krishna Timalsena said the Commission has incorporated policy-level recommendations in the report after studying 11 working areas within its jurisdiction.

It may be noted that NIC functions as a separate constitutional commission for the protection of the rights of Khas Arya, backward classes, people with disabilities, senior citizens, workers, peasants, minorities, and marginalised communities, the people of Karnali and economically disadvantaged communities in accordance with the Article 258 of the constitution.

There are six other constitutional commissions National Women Commission, National Dalit Commission, National Aborigines Commission, Madhesi Commission, Tharu Commission and the Muslim Commission guaranteed by the constitution for the protection of the rights of the given classes and communities.