Kathmandu, May 23 Members of Parliament today opined that the parliamentary committees should not set their programmes on the guidance of I/NGO-funded programmes as they have larger role to ensure good governance. The issue of whether the House panels should organise programmes in support of I/NGO-funded programmes was disputed at today’s meeting of the Good Governance and Monitoring Committee (GGMC) after some of its members objected. CPN Maoist Centre member Aman Lal Modi expressed objection at today’s GGMC meeting stating that the panel holding INGO-funded seminars was inappropriate. The panel had recently held three seminars on “utilisation of money of NGOs in the federal structure’ in three districts in the funding of National Democratic Institute. “May be other House panels have been accepting support from INGOs. However, the good governance committee should not do it as it has to oversee and monitor the activities of government and public institutions,” Modi said. Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal’s Chief Whip Dilanath Giri, NC lawmakers NP Saud and Bahadur Singh Lama were also supported Modi. Giri said that the role of INGOs was not appropriate in the country so there should be high alertness regarding their interests. “We should assess how the INGOs are directing us for specific political system in Nepal and we should remain free from their influence,” Giri said. Saud said that the good governance committee should be a role model for other panels by not taking financial support from INGOs. “The panel should use government buildings and government resources transparently while holding seminars and programmes,” Saud said. Lama expressed concern about the growing influence of I/NGOs, which he said was weakening state mechanisms. However, some lawmakers including CPN-UML’s Udaya Nepali Shrestha and CPN Maoist Centre’s Janak Raj Joshee pleaded that taking support of I/NGOs in good faith should not be taken otherwise.