KATHMANDU: In today's meeting of the National Assembly (NA), discussions have begun on headings of eight different ministries, under the Appropriation Bill-2075.

The documents of discussion include bills on ministries of Forests and Environment; Education, Science and Technology; Labour, Employment and Social Security; Water Supply; Finance; Urban Development; Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation; and Women, Children and Senior Citizen.

Chairman Ganesh Timalsina read out letters received from the Office of the President, related to different bills which were recently passed by the House of Representatives and National Assembly, and certified by President Bidya Devi Bhandari, as stated by Rastriya Samachar Samiti.

Meanwhile, taking part in the discussions, Badri Pandey of the Nepali Congress proposed slashing the expenditure of Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and made objections to low amount of budget allocation to foster quality education. Pandey stated that the budget had not given attention to raise education quality in community schools as imagined by the Education Act (ninth amendment), and to establish schools with residential facilities in rural and remote areas. Presenting a proposal to curtail the expenditure of the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen, lawmaker Tara Devi Bhatta raised questions as to why the government lagged behind in its commitment made during elections to increase allowance for senior citizens. Urging the government to pay special attention to increase women's participation in policy-making, lawmaker Binda Devi Ale Rana asked for women-friendly development projects while lawmaker Pramila Kumari suggested the government to make the activities of National Women Commission, Muslim Commission, among other commissions more effective. Similarly, lawmaker Balram Banskota urged the government to pay attention in budget implementation, saying that the budget would help bring economic prosperity in the country.