KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Sunday presented the government's annual policy and programme for the next fiscal year 2016/17 at the House. The document pointed out implementation of the Constitution and federalism including amendment to existing laws and formation of new ones as the government's priority. The President said local polls would be held between mid-November and mid-December this year as a step toward implementation of the Constitution. Reconstruction Likewise, she said the government would speed up post-quake reconstruction efforts and complete rebuilding of all individual residences within two years. The government would provide subsidised loans to quake survivors for the same. The government offices, schools and buildings of archaeological importance would also be rebuilt with a priority. Foreign donors would be consulted to manage funds for the reconstruction. Employment and prosperity Likewise, the government would introduce 'One Home: One Employment' programme to promote employment as a component of social security. The government has also prioritised diversification of foreign trade to end dependence on a single nation, according to the President. While creating sufficient opportunities of employment in the domestic market, the government would gradually decrease dependence on foreign employment. Declaring the next year as 'departure toward prosperity' and the next five years as the 'time of development', the government has aimed to include Sustainable Development Goals in its development policies and programmes. The government has also prioritised public-private partnership as of last years. Agriculture Commercialisation of agriculture, promotion of sectors with competitive benefits, announcement of pocket areas for agricultural production, inclusion of farmers in social security provision, assurance of agricultural instruments, mobilisation of cooperatives for benefits of farmers, empowerment of small farmers are the government's priorities for development of the agricultural sector. Likewise, the government would strive to make the nation independent on livestock production. For this, subsidised loans to farmers and establishment of slaughterhouse would be prioritised. Forestry The government would encourage forest-based businesses. It would convert barren lands into forests. Employment opportunities would be sought in forest areas. Likewise the government would make a master plan for conservation of the Chure region. Industrialisation and commerce The government would establish big industrial districts in all provinces within next three years and the process would begin the next fiscal. The government would stress implementation of the new Commerce Policy for promotion of the national commerce. The government would manage market monitoring and supply system. A Market Monitoring Office would be established in each of the provinces. Petroleum reserve stations would be established in all provinces so as to suffice the domestic demands for petroleum products for at least 90 days. Hydropower and irrigation The government has also mentioned generation of 10,000 megawatt hydropower within next 10 years. Completion of under-construction hydropower has also been kept in the priority list. As far as possible, the government would establish at least one reservoir-based hydropower project in each province. Likewise, the under-construction irrigation projects would be completed very soon, according to the policy and programme. Drinking water The government would run 'Janatako Khanepani' (Drinking water of people) programme in rural and urban areas to ensure availability of drinking water. The government has also planned to save rainwater with appropriate technologies to solve shortage of drinking water at various places. Infrastructures The government would expand roads connecting capitals of provinces to at least two lanes. Likewise, the the government has planned to complete construction of the Postal Highway by the stipulated deadline. The east-west railway trail construction as well as the construction of Kathmandu-Nijgadh fast track would also begin next year. Roads to Rasuwagadhi and Kimathankna border points as well as the Araniko Highway would be upgraded. Tuins (wire crossings) will be replaced with suspension bridges within next two years. Tourism and aviation The government would celebrate the year 2018 as the Visit Nepal Year with a mission to bring as many as 1 million tourists. Likewise, the Bikram Sambat year 2073 would be celebrated as the Domestic Tourism Year. Mountaineering tourism would be made safer. Various cities would be declared International Buddhist Cities. The government would carry out feasibility studies to establish an international airport in each of seven provinces. The Tribhuvan International Airport would be upgraded. Education The government would make the secondary education free and compulsory while education at government schools would be improved. The School Sector Development Plan would be implemented. The teacher-student ratio would be checked to redistribute the teachers so as to better deliver the performance. Commercial, vocational and skill-based education has also been considered a priority. As many as 30 districts would be declared literate districts in the next fiscal. Health and social welfare The government would increase the allowance of female community health volunteers and bring them into the coverage of social security prgroammes. Various social welfare programmes would be organised to ensure rights of women, children and senior citizens. Youth empowerment The government would make as many as 50,000 youth self-employed every year. Likewise, educated unemployed youth would be provided with subsidised loans. The government announced that youth scientists would be provided with research fellowship. Labour A labour office would be established in each province. Likewise, programmes aimed at ending child labour would be given a continuity. The pension system would be made contribution-based. It was announced in the last fiscal as well. Sports An international stadium would be built in Lakhanpur of Jhapa. Budget would be allocated to organise the 13th South Asian Games in Nepal in 2018. Miscellaneous The government has planned to begin regional editions of the government-owned Gorkhapatra national daily from Biratnagar of Morang and Kohalpur of Banke. It also prioritised distribution of national identity cards and endorsement of bills related to civil and criminal crimes currently under-discussion at the Parliament. A law would be formulated about the National Security Council. Capacity building of all constitutional organs has also been made a priority. The civil service would be reorganised as per the federal structure. Harmony would be maintained between the national security policy and the foreign policy. Beginning her address, the President had said the new Constitution promulgated in September last year institutionalised various achievements of democratic movements including republicanism, federalism, secularism and fundamental rights. She added that the Constitution concluded struggles for democratic political and civil rights. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had handed over a copy of the policy and programme to the President while the Parliament meeting began today. (Updated) President arrives at House to present policy and programme KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari is presenting the government's annual policy and programme at the House for the next fiscal year 2016/17. A Nepal Army troop presented the guard of honour to the President upon her arrival. Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun is also present at the special Parliament meeting. The Parliament is scheduled to hold discussions on the document before the government would present the annual fiscal budget on May 28. It has been learned that the government has prioritised implementation of the Constitution, post-earthquake reconstruction efforts and economic recovery in the programmes proposed for the next year.