The periodic development plan formulation and consensus building workshop organised by Makawanpur District Development Committee (DDC) began here.

Speaking on the occasion Member of Parliament Krishna Prasad Dahal said that all the political parties should reach a consensus on poverty alleviation, drinking water, health, road, irrigation, school infrastructure, religion and culture upliftment and income generation programmes while formulating periodic development programmes for the next five years.

DDC chairman Rameswore Rana and DDC vice chairman Badri Prasad Lamsal expressed the view that poverty alleviation, upliftment of the backward communities and effective development works could be carried out in the district through proper coordination and understanding between the national planning commission and the government.

Member of the Nepali Congress (NC) district committee Ram Prasad Dahal, secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist and Leninist district committee Raghunath Ihulal, Rastriya Prajatantara Party district secretary Navaraj Bista, Nepal Sadhbhawana Patry vice-president Kajiman Lamaplanning expert Dr. Govinda Prasad Koirala and Gangalal Tuladhar had expressed their views at the workshop.

The two-day workshop was attended by 285 persons including mps, office bearers of the DDC, the heads of government offices, the chief district officer, intellectuals, the representatives of the backward communities and non-governmental organisations, social workers, teachers and journalists of the district.

Meanwhile a 35-member steering committee has been constituted under DDC chairman Rameswore Rana to create an atmosphere of consensus in the district for formulation of periodic development programmes.

Chief district officer Dipak Kumar Joshi, local development officer Rameshkant Poudel, social worker Tulsi Thapa, Dr Rishi Adhikari, the office-bearers of the political parties, the DDC members and the heads of district offices are members of the steering committee.