Kathmandu, September 21

Ten lawmakers, including six women lawmakers, have been elected as chairs of thematic committees of the House of Representatives today.

All the chairs took the oath of office and secrecy from Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara. Both Speaker Mahara and deputy-Speaker Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe congratulated the elected chairs of the HoR thematic panels.

This is the first time in Nepal’s parliamentary history that more women are leading parliamentary committees.

Out of 10, ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has eight lawmakers leading the committees. Out of eight lawmakers from the NCP (NCP), six are women. The NCP (NCP) women lawmakers are Pabitra Kharel Niroula (International Relations Committee), Purna K Subedi (Agriculture, Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee), Niru Devi Pal (Women and Social Committee), Shashi Shrestha (State Affairs and Good Governance Committee), Kalyani Khadka (Development and Technology Committee) and Jaypuri Gharti (Education and Health Committee).

Two other NCP (NCP) lawmakers elected as committee chairs are Krishna Prasad Dahal (Finance Committee) and Krishna Bhakta Pokhrel (Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee).

Deputy Speaker Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe said it was a great opportunity for women to show their worth in the Parliament. “Women chairs should show their ability and do their job properly,” she said.

The remaining two HoR thematic panels will be led by Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal lawmaker Bimal Prasad Shreewastab (Industry, Commerce, Labour and Consumer Welfare Committee) and Nepali Congress lawmaker Bharat Kumar Shah (Public Accounts Committee).

Of the four National Assembly thematic committees, two are led by male and two by female lawmakers.

The Parliament has yet to elect the chairs of parliamentary joint committees. There are two joint committees —  Public Hearing Committee; and State Directives, Policy and Liability Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee. According to the Parliament Secretariat, these two committees will get their chairs on Sunday.