Policies and Programmes of the Government of Nepal

for the Fiscal Year 2066/067

Rt. Hon Speaker,

It gives me pleasure to present before this Legislative Parliament the Policies and Programmes for the fiscal year 2066/067 on behalf of the coalition Government constituted with a view to creating a just, equal, strong, independent and prosperous Nepal while undertaking the obligation to write a new constitution reflecting the spirit of the historic People's Movement and the people’s aspirations through the Constituent Assembly within the stipulated time-frame by strengthening mutual dialogue, consensus and collaboration.

We have entered a new era of the Federal Democratic Republic by ending the aged old feudal monarchy and overcoming the long, difficult and historic phases of the struggle. As I address the Legislative Parliament for the second time in my capacity as President of the Republic of Nepal, I would like to recall the various aspects of the lives and struggles of the activists of the movement who fought to build a democratic and just Nepal. At this historic moment, I offer my respectful tributes to all the martyrs who have sacrificed their invaluable life for the cause of the nation. Likewise, I also offer my deep respects to the wounded freedom fighters. I would also like to put stress on the need for eliminating the unimaginable agonies of the disappeared, displaced and conflict-affected families.

It has been more than a year when the Constituent Assembly was elected by the sovereign people of Nepal for writing a new constitution. More than two years have elapsed since the Comprehensive Peace Accord was signed with the commitment to move forward towards sustainable peace and democracy by ending the series of violence and counter-violence. However, the responsibilities to take the peace process to a positive conclusion, to undertake the restructuring of the State, and to write the new constitution through the Constituent Assembly have yet to be accomplished.

Rt. Hon. Speaker,

National consensus among the political parties is extremely important to attain the epoch-making transformations sought by the people. The Government is committed to establish constitutional supremacy, to ensure the rule of law and good governance, to implement the understandings and agreements and to take the peace process to a positive conclusion by eliminating anarchy, insecurity and impunity. Making a new constitution within the stipulated time-frame on the basis of national consensus, restructuring of the state, ending feudalism and achieving rapid economic development together with socio-economic transformation are the main priorities of the Government.

Border security will be strengthened by consolidating Nepal's sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity.

Laws and regulations will be changed to institutionalize the Federal Democratic Republic. The Government will expedite and facilitate the work of the state restructuring commission created to assist the Constituent Assembly in institutionalizing federalism. Property belonging to the former royal family, both within the country and abroad, will be investigated and utilized for the good of the nation.

Constitutional supremacy, independence of the judiciary, human rights, civil and fundamental rights, press freedom, the rule of law, democratic system based on multi-party competition and the fundamental rights of the oppressed class, caste, region, gender and communities will be guaranteed.

Crimes and anarchy prevalent in the society will be controlled by strengthening the law and order situation, and impunity will be eliminated. A code of conduct will be developed and enforced so as to make all State mechanisms including the administration and the security agencies impartial and accountable in order to guarantee safety and security to the people. Arrangements will be made to address the security grievances of the people instantly by launching a campaign “Peace and Security: Expectations of the People”.

The civil administration, Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and other security agencies will be run on the basis of the prevailing laws in order to ensure the rule of law and good governance. They will be kept away and free from party politics. The civil service and the security agencies will be made impartial, professionally efficient, and accountable to the people.

A special plan will be implemented to stop the acts of obstructing major roads and essential services in the name of “bandhs” (closures) by forging national consensus. A system of third-party insurance will be implemented to end road obstructions owing to traffic accidents and such road obstructions will be cleared by rapid deployment of security agencies.

A special policy will be adopted to guarantee peace and security in the districts, to ensure justice and good governance, to implement development plans in time and with the required quality standard, and to make the district administration and police chiefs efficient and accountable to monitor the construction works.

The agreements made by the Government of Nepal with the Madhesi People's Rights Forum and the United Democratic Madhesi Front will be implemented. However, a high-level monitoring committee will be formed to monitor the status of implementation of agreements with various parties while leaving all matters related to the constitution to be decided by the Constituent Assembly itself.

The process of inclusion in all State organs and levels of women, Dalits, indigenous groups, Madhesi and inhabitants of the Terai, indigenous groups of the Terai including Tharus, Muslims, minorities, people with disabilities and the people of the backward regions will be carried forward on the basis of social justice and in a forward looking manner. The inclusion-related Bill currently under consideration of the Legislative Parliament will be moved forward.

A high-level commission will be formed to define, identify and respect the martyrs. A systematic record of individuals who have attained martyrdom at different times will be maintained. Attention will be given to the development of the various regions where fighters of the democratic movement had sacrificed their lives.

The Commission on the Investigation of Abuse of Authority and other agencies related to judicial administration will be strengthened to control corruption effectively. Additional legal and institutional arrangements will be made to stop irregularities at all levels of the State. Procrastination will be ended by establishing transparency and accountability.

National consensus will be forged to hold elections of the local bodies. Interim arrangement as per the constitutional provision will be made to run the local bodies until elections are held.

Agreements made by the Government with the different political parties in the past and the commitments made in parliament will be implemented. Reports of various inquiry commissions and committees will be made public and their recommendations expeditiously implemented.

All legitimate demands put forward by the workers, peasants, women, youths, students, teachers, professors, intellectuals, doctors, engineers, lawyers, civil servants, journalists, entrepreneurs, cultural artists, the landless, the squatters, the conflict-affected, the displaced, freed bonded labours (Kamaiyas), the Haliyas, Badis, and the disabled will be gradually fulfilled through mutual dialogue.

The supervision, integration and rehabilitation of the combatants of the Maoist army and management of arms will be done in accordance with the provisions of agreements including the Comprehensive Peace Accord signed between the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). The supervision, integration and rehabilitation of the combatants of the Maoist army will be carried out prior to the completion of the task of writing the new constitution.

The national security policy will be formulated in keeping with the suggestions of the Legislative-Parliament and political consensus. The national peace and rehabilitation commission, the high-level truth and reconciliation commission, the high-level state structuring suggestions commission, the commission for the investigation of the disappeared will be constituted/re-constituted. The act of monitoring of implementation and compliance of the understandings and agreements will be done by the national peace and rehabilitation commission.

All kinds of conflicts and problems that have come up in the Terai-Madhes and some other parts of the country will be resolved through talks and dialogue. However, violent and criminal activities will not be tolerated.

Relief and rehabilitation works will be undertaken for the benefit of the conflict-affected and displaced people. Construction of 'Health Shelters’, one each in the five development regions, will be initiated for the care of the conflict-affected senior citizens. A Sarjak Ashram will be established in Kathmandu for the respect and security of the senior national figures.

Priority will be given to mechanisms which are capable of providing quick services to the people and which have multiple uses, while special priority will be given to the reconstruction of the physical infrastructures damaged during the conflict.

A People’s Movement and Martyrs Memorial Museum will be established in Gokarna, Kathmandu. Planned development of the Narayanhiti Museum will be made. Construction of the Republic Monument will be completed. A national ethnic museum will be established in Champadevi, Kathmandu. The State will help establish ethnic museums in different districts covering all the castes and communities at the initiative and responsibility of the local people. The State will give special attention to preserve the culture and heritage of the Terai-Madhesh, the Hills and the Mountains.

Rt. Hon. Speaker,

Families of those who were killed or disappeared during the conflict and who have not yet received relief assistance will be given relief assistance, and the act of rehabilitating the displaced will be carried forward. Those whose property has been forcibly seized as well as those whose property has been proven to have been damaged but have not yet received compensation will be given compensation. A special fund will be established for the rescue, relief, rehabilitation and assistance to those who have been affected by violence and conflict and are displaced. In order to provide direct relief to the people of the affected region, programs involving people’s participation will be undertaken. Those who were wounded in course of different movements but have not received appropriate treatment will be provided treatment facilities. Those who were physically disabled will be given compensation.

Price rise will be controlled by increasing the supply of food items and other daily necessities. Price Cartelling in essential commodities and the syndicate system in the transportation sector will be abolished. Public distribution system will be strengthened so as to make the essential commodities available at affordable prices to the squatters and people living below the poverty line. Necessary arrangements will be made to ensure the rights and interests of the consumers.

Relief and rehabilitation works for the people affected by the Koshi floods will be made effective. High priority will be given to the reconstruction of the Koshi dam so as to minimize the risks. Necessary steps will be taken to provide relief to the people of the far west and other parts of the country seriously affected by floods and landslides.

In order to consolidate the political achievements made by the country through the historic People's Movement and to strengthen the national economy on the basis of the principles of welfare state and make it socialism-oriented and people-oriented, emphasis will be given on the public, cooperative and private sector partnerships. While focusing development efforts on reducing poverty, unemployment, backwardness, inequality and dependence, economic and social policies and programmes based on social justice, economic growth and distributive justice will be adopted. The slogan ‘Cooperatives in Villages and Cities, and Employment at Every Household’ will be realized.

Distribution of ‘State-Privileged Identity Cards’ will be initiated in order to raise the living standards of families living below the poverty line, and priority will be given Identity Card while providing services by the Government authorities including in education, health, food, employment etc.

Employment will be gradually established as a fundamental right of the citizen. Employment opportunities will be expanded through the medium of the public, cooperative and private sectors. An ‘Employment Guarantee Program’ will be carried out by the State to ensure at least 100 days of employment each year to people living below the poverty line. Necessary laws and regulations for this will be formulated.

With a view to establishing social justice, ensuring equitable distribution of the factors of production and achieving economic growth, scientific land reforms programme will be implemented to maintain access of local landless and tenant farmers to land. The problem of land trust (Guthi) will be resolved. Special attention will be paid to the socio-economic uplifting of the agriculture labour, freed bonded labour, landless and squatters. Food security policy will be implemented.

Nine programs consisting of education for all and literacy, health, safe drinking water, small irrigation, small and cottage industry, skill-oriented training and employment, intensive afforestation, small hydroelectricity and local road will be effectively undertaken.

Agriculture sector that has been the foundation of livelihood, income and employment of the majority of the people will be transformed from the current 'agriculture for subsistence' into 'agriculture for sustainable development'. Emphasis will be laid on enhancing production pursuant to 'One Village, One Product' policy. Farmers will be provided concessions with regard to necessary fertilizer, seed, agricultural tools, cold storage and irrigation-related electricity tariff. Private sector will be encouraged to establish livestock farms. Perspective plan for agriculture development will be implemented. Provision of subsidy will be made with regard to the price and transportation of chemical fertilizers as well as commercial production of organic fertilizers. While discouraging the fragmentation of agriculture land, programs of consolidated farming through cooperatives will be encouraged. In order to ensure that the farmers get appropriate price for their products, agricultural wholesale market based on cooperatives will be expanded.

For the qualitative enhancement of agriculture production and productivity, special priority will be accorded to the implementation of small and medium-sized irrigation projects. Big irrigation projects will be implemented as multi-purpose projects. Sunkoshi-Kamala Diversion and Bheri-Babai Diversion will be undertaken in this context. River training programs will be launched as a campaign to protect loss of lives and property, to generate employment as well as to promote resettlement programs for the landless people by reclaiming the land.

With a view to developing necessary physical infrastructure required to attract the private sector in the overall economic development and industrialization of the country, the role of government will be made effective. While ensuring industrial peace, new industrial policy will be implemented to create conducive environment for investment. Industrial security force will be constituted for the safety of industrial zones.

Board of investment will be established under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister for the smooth and expeditious implementation of decisions relating to the private sector investment of national significance. Common people's access to ownership of shares in the projects to be constructed under public sector investment as well as other public enterprizes will be made easier. Delivery of services by the public enterprizes will be made less expensive, easier and effective by introducing management reforms. Nepal Airlines Corporation will be operated under public-private partnership.

With a view to ensuring uninterrupted supply of electricity in the country in the long-run as well as promoting its export in the future, programs for the development of energy including hydro electricity will be initiated as an important basis for national development. Long-term policy will be adopted for the mobilization of national, foreign, private, bilateral as well as multilateral investments. The existing policies as well institutional arrangements will be reformed for this purpose. The local people's access to and participation in hydroelectricity projects will be ensured. High priority will be accorded to the implementation of rural electrification programs and 'Bright Nepal Campaign' will be launched with the expansion of solar energy as well as micro and small hydropower projects.

Policy and programs relating to the resolution of energy crisis will be implemented effectively. In order to reduce power shortage especially during the dry season capacity of the existing power houses will be enhanced and short-term policy of operating the thermal plants in full capacity will be adopted. High priority with national resolve will be accorded to the expeditious implementation of some large scale hydropower projects.

Construction works of East-West railway and Hulaki road in Terai-Madhesh will be initiated. The task of linking District Headquarters with road will be undertaken with priority. Mid-hilly road as well as Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali corridor road projects connecting Nepal-India border to Nepal's border with Tibet in China will be initiated. A fast track connecting Kathmandu to Terai as well as Dharan-Chatara-Gaighat-Hetauda Road, Seti highway and Rapti highway will be constructed. Construction work of a bridge over Koshi river at Chatara will be initiated.

Projection of resources will be made along with 3-year expenditure plan with a view to ensuring resources for high-priority project and programmes as well as to continue development and construction works through 'multiyear contract' system,. In order to enhance the competitiveness of the contract system, arrangements will be made for submission of tender bids electronically to multiple centers. Public Procurement Act will be reviewed to check corruption and enhance effectiveness of construction works through reform in public procurement and construction system.

The concept of Public-Private partnership will be adopted in the construction and operation of big infrastructure projects. The existing laws and rules will be reviewed to promote private sector investment in infrastructure. National and foreign investment will be encouraged in the development of infrastructure under build-operate-transfer scheme.

Emphasis will be givenon the balanced development of Terai-Madhesh, Hill, Mountain as well as of villages and cities. Special programs will be launched and mechanism will be established for the development of backward regions including Karnali. To carry out a comprehensive study of mid and far-western regions lagging behind in terms of development and opportunity, a Commission will be constituted and special programmes will be implemented.

Natural, social and cultural resources and heritage of the country will be preserved. With a view to contributing to the economic development, special incentives will be offered to programs in the areas of religious, cultural, rural, health and educational tourism. Construction works of international airport at Nijgadh as well as of regional airports at Pokhara and Lumbini will be initiated. Other airports in operation will be upgraded.

'Nepal Tourism Year- 2011' program will be successfully implemented. Emphasis will be laid on the identification and development of new tourism spots and products as well as on the conduct of promotional activities in the tourist generating locations also in partnership with the private sector. New strategy will be formulated for the promotion of domestic, regional as well as international tourism, and Nepal Tourism Board will be activated to implement it. Air Services Agreements will be concluded with additional countries for the promotion of tourism.

Special Economic Zones will be established to expand the base and competitive strength of exportable items. While appropriately managing the challenges emerging in industrial and trade sector on account of bilateral, regional and multilateral trade treaties and agreements, atmosphere will be created to take advantage of the available opportunities.

Local Integrated Service Centre, cooperatives as well as depots of the concerned public enterprizes will be mobilized to ensure supply of essential products including food, salt, sugar and kerosene in the remote districts of Hill and Mountain regions. Additional transport subsidy will be granted to protect the people in remote and inaccessible hilly regions from soaring prices.

Necessary legal framework will be prepared and implemented to involve private sector in the business of petroleum products to make the supply and distribution of petroleum products competitive, smooth and systematic.

Forest area will be expanded by launching afforestation programme as a campaign so as to promote livestock development, promoting conservation of resources and ecosystem. Community forest programs will be encouraged in view of its contribution to the protection of environment. In Terai-Madhesh, the concept of 'partnership forest' will also be introduced in accordance with the demand of the local people. Arrangements will be made for the public audit for the institutional development of community and partnership forest. Special programs will be undertaken to minimize environment pollution and deforestation in view of the environmental degradation, imbalance and global warming.

Intensive forest management program will be conducted for the commercialization as well as enhancement of productivity of forest resources. Open space in the forest area will be made available to the poor people living below the poverty line as a leasehold forest for their subsistence and employment. 'Mechi Mahakali Integrated Chure Protection Action Plan' will be formulated and implemented for the protection of Chure and Shivalik region. The existing Act and Rules will be amended with a view to encouraging investment in rearing selected wild animals and birds as well as in promoting investment in production and processing of herbs and herbal products.

With a view to minimizing the effects of climate change on different sectors including agriculture sector, climate change-related policy and national adaptation program will be formulated and implemented within the next Fiscal Year. A climate change-related Action Plan Preparation Committee will be constituted under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. While emphasizing the concept of sustainable and clean development, high priority will be accorded to renewable energy to generate green employment. For this, rural energy subsidy policy will be continued in the next Fiscal Year with further improvement.

Financial sector reform programmes will be undertaken. Strict action will be taken to the willful defaulters of bank loans. Programmes to encourage good debtors will be undertaken. Additional legal arrangements will be introduced for the regulation of savings and credit cooperatives. Crops and livestock insurance programmes will be expanded through micro insurance services. Necessary legal arrangements will be made for this purpose.

Regulatory and supervisory capacity of Nepal Rastra Bank will be further strengthened. In order to protect the deposit of small individual depositors, compulsory insurance of certain amount of savings and fixed deposit by Banks and Financial Institutions will be introduced. Access to modern banking services will be expanded in the rural areas.

Free and compulsory education programmes will be undertaken gradually up to secondary level. National literacy campaign will be implemented with necessary changes. National literacy campaign will be implemented with necessary amendments. Special emphasis will be laid on the qualitative, employment-oriented, vocational and technical education accessible to the people. Primary and informal education in mother tongue will be expanded.

School sector reform programs will be effectively implemented to make the basic education qualitative. The level of assistance of the State, participation and accountability of the community in the management of community schools will be increased to enhance the quality of school-level education. Promotion of quality education and capacity building through institutionalization of the collaboration between public and private sectors will be encouraged.

The process of establishment of Universities which have been granted approval in principle, in the past, in accordance with the concept of multi-university will be carried forward. Emphasis will be laid on the enhancement of quality education by reviewing the existing structure of Tribhuban University. Necessary legal, institutional and infrastructure arrangements will be made for the establishment of Poly-technic University. With a view to ensuring access of all citizens to technical education and vocational training, additional training units, also with participation of private sector, will be established and resources will be mobilized.

Arrangements for 'child protection subsidy' will be made on behalf of the State for the nurturing and healthy development of children as future stars. This facility, initially to be granted to the families of oppressed, endangered and marginalized ethnic groups and it will be gradually extended to cover all children.

Primary and basic health will be ensured as a fundamental right of the people. With a view to making health services easy and accessible to the people, investment in the rural health programmes will be enhanced and monitoring the services under such investment will be strengthened. Policies to encourage community and cooporative health programmes will be pursued. Preparations will be made for the implementation of 'Health Insurance Programme'. Arrangements will be made for the free treatment of the people below poverty line suffering from complicated diseases. Special incentive programmes will be introduced to ensure the presence of health workers in remote and backward areas.

New programs will be initiated in the area of reproductive health under the banner of 'Safe Motherhood, Women's Right'. Additional programs will be initiated to minimize malnutrition as well as maternal and infant mortality rates. Free maternity services will be expanded and incentives will be provided to make use of pre and post-delivery health care services. Arrangements for Twenty four-hour maternity services will be made in the health posts. Mobile services will also be provided for the benefit of the women suffering from prolapse of uterus. Incentive programmes for the women health volunteers will be undertaken.

With a view to enhancing the access of the poor citizens of the urban areas to health services, arrangement for the establishment of additional health institutions and strengthening of the existing institutions and additional women health volunteers will be made on the basis of population and geography in coordination with the local bodies. Naturopathy, Yoga, Ayurvedic, Homeopathic, Yunani, Acupuncture and Amchi services will be promoted under the alternative medical therapy.

Under social security scheme, the social security progarmmes will be made available to the senior citizens, widows, endangered ethnic and indigenous groups, Dalits, disabled and fully incapacitated persons will be expanded.

Budget and people’s participation will be enhanced in programmes related to drinking water, sanitation, and construction of rural infrastructure. The construction works of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project will be completed within the stipulated timeframe with high priority. In order to enhance the quality of services to be provided by drinking water and sanitation related projects, the participation of the private sector will be encouraged. Emphasis will be laid on the maximum utilization of rain water harvesting.

Special focus will be given on the problems related to the sanitation and traffic management system of Kathmandu and a comprehensive reform package will be undertaken for the improvement. The use of plastic bags will be prohibited in some designated areas and this will be gradually expanded to other areas.

In order to protect the Bagmati civilization, the resources of Bagmati areas will be protected and the construction of the Bagmati Corridor will be expedited. Additional programmes will be carried out for the religious and cultural development of Pashupati, Janakpur and Lumbini areas. Operating businesses in the vicinity of religious sites will be discouraged.

Arrangements of low cost “People's Residences” for the highly backward community, poor dalits, endangered ethnic groups and marginalized communities will be made. This programme will be gradually expanded to other communities. To provide social security to the elderly people, old-age homes will be constructed immediately in five development regions. The government will extend its support to the organizations and communities involved in this field.

Necessary reforms will be made in the Labour Act so as to guarantee professional rights and protection of labourers as well as to enhance the productivity of industries and businesses. The foreign employment will be made systematic and easily accessible to general public. Priority shall be given to co-operative programmes for generating self-employment and self relience for rural women.

In accordance with the policy of the devolution of power, the capacity of local bodies will be stregnthened. The programme, “Build Our Village Ourselves”, will be pushed forward in order to make development projects at grass-root level more participatory. A policy of devolving power to local bodies, except those which should be done by the Centre itself, will be adopted.

In order to make creative development of the youth force, an action plan on ‘Youth Empowerment’ will be undertaken in line with the National Youth Policy. The youth will be deployed in various development activities as volunteers and the youth self-employment programmes will be carried out as a campaign. The youth will be mobilized on nationwide basis to undertake local development, social mobilization, monitoring of development programmes as well as for ending social evils. Programmes targeted to the youth will be taken to the villages by forming a ‘National Youth Council’. Support will be provided for the personality development of talented youth in different sectors exploring the latent talency in the children.

A new Sports Policy will be implemented for the development of sports sector. Physical infrastructures will be developed and improved, and a wide-ranging development and expansion of the sports will be undertaken from school level. The sports sector will be widely extended on the basis of a slogan, “Sports for Healthy Life and National Pride”. A programme for finding talents in sports will be initiated and special arrangements will be made for the livelihood of the athletes winning international awards.

The state will pay special attention to respect and protect special talents, who have dedicated their lives in the diverse fields of literature, music and arts.

Arrangements will be made for severe punishment to prohibit kidnapping, rape, drug- trafficking, allegations of witchcraft, untouchability, etc. Necessary steps will be taken to eliminate the social evils like the dowry system.

Arrangements will be made for the protection of the rights and interests of the Nepalese migrant workers and investment of their skill and capital into the country will be encouraged. Non-resident Nepalese will be provided with special identity cards and encouraged to take part in the development campaign of Nepal. A special programme will be carried out to stop brain-drain. Special arrangement will be made to utilize the remittances for national development.

Appropriate fiscal and monetary policies will be implemented so as to minimize the empacts of the global economic recession in Nepal. Programmes will be undertaken to integrate the returnee Nepalese migrant workers into the labour market of Nepal.

Emphasis will be laid on expanding tax net, adjusting rates, controlling leakages and strengthening administrative capacity for the mobilization of internal resources. Arrangement will be made to provide easy services to taxpayers in all district headquarters. The tax administration will be made transparent.

A policy of mobilizing foreign aid in accordance with national need, interests and priority as well as utilizing foreign aid in a transparent and effective manner will be adopted by reviewing Foreign Aid Policy.

Right Hon'ble Speaker,

Despite the progress that Nepal has made gradually in the area of information and communication sectors, a large portion of the population has not been able to take advantage of its multi-dimensional use. The Government will integrate this sector with the overall development processes by adopting a policy under the theme, “Knowledge, Information and Communication, Foundation of New Nepal”. Telephone services will be expanded within this year to all Village Development Committees. A programme will be initiated with a mission of extending optical fiber to all district headquarters so as to provide internet facility in all Village Development Committees.

By introducing qualitative improvement in the traditional postal system, the services will be diversified through the use of modern information technology. A programme will be undertaken to develop the Department of Information as the central information bank of the Government of Nepal. While making security printing effective, the capacity to get all security printing works done within the country will be developed.

Stress will be given on the effective implementation of the Rights to Information Act and the Working Journalist Act. Persons involved in journalism for long period of time will be specially honoured. The inclusive programmes run by Radio Nepal and Nepal Television will be made effective. The publications carried out in different national languages by Gorkhapatra will be expanded. Encouragement will be given to the screening of the films contributing to the development and protection of Nepalese arts and culture. With a view to developing Nepal as an attractive place for the screening of international films, the act of developing a film city, equipped with all facilities will be taken up.

Women's participation with their capacity enhancement will be promoted in various organs of the state as well as every sector of national life. Special programmes will be implemented for education, health and employment of the indigenous and ethnic groups, inhabitants of Terai/Madhesi, dalits, oppressed, poor, disabled and the people living in backward regions. Special arrangements will be made for the supply of food as well as for identification and mobilization of alternative resources in the food-deficit remote districts including Karnali region.

Special programmes including social security will be implemented for the development of dalits, oppressed and backward groups, communities and areas. The whole country will be declared free from untouchabibily. A wide spread campaign will be carried out in order to eliminate the practice of Chhaupadi. Social discrimination and untouchability against the dalits will be taken as punishable offence and arrangements for strong action will be made against such offences. Programmes of positive discrimination will be implemented for the up-liftment of the dalit community. Additional programmes will be initiated for social integration.

Ending all kinds of discriminations against women, the laws related with the control of crimes such as rape, domestic violence, and trafficking of women will be effectively enforced. "Women Awareness Programme" will be implemented for rehabilitation, up-liftment and development of affected women and children from above mentioned social evils. In order to provide temporary shelter to women displaced by domestic violence, “Women Shelters” will be established at fifteen most affected places. Partnership will be forged with Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) to this end.

Disabled persons will be given either special training and opportunities for employment or disability allowances. Social security will be provided to the elderly, helpless and widows. Priority will be given for working-age widows for employment. Public places will be gradually made disabled friendly.

All types of discriminations against religion, language and culture will be eliminated. A national policy will be formulated and implemented for the protection, utilization and mobilization of cultural heritage. Arrangements will be made for the protection of scattered heritages by maintaining their record. The protection of places enlisted as the World Heritage Sites will be made effective. A National Commission will be constituted to make recommendations for the overall welfare and development of various religious, minority groups and communities.

The rehabilitation works of the freed kamaiyas (bonded labours) will be made systematic. Necessary steps will be taken for liberation and rehabilitation of Kamalari and Haliya. Similary, rehabilitation works of Badi and deuki communities will be initiated after undertaking comprehensive studies.

The efficiency of Nepal Army will be promoted. The involvement of Nepal Army in the development of infrastructure and conservation of heritage sites will be continued. The efficiency of Nepal Army will be enhanced so as to increase their participation in Peacekeeping missions. Human rights education will be made mandatory for army personnel's trainings.

In line with the policy of making justice accessible to all, the process of reforming judicial services will be undertaken. Necessary legal arrangements will be made to expand the jurisdictions of the Appellate and District Courts. Promotion and protection of human rights will be made effective.

Based upon the experience gained in the past elections, procedural reforms will be carried out so as to make elections free, fair, and credible. The distribution of National Identity Card will be completed within next year. Arrangements will be made to reveal the identity of voters through the National Identity Card by making the voters list more systematic. Necessary arrangements will be made for a strong and effective role of the Election Commission.

The state’s foreign policy will be conducted based on the principles of the UN Charter, Panchasheela, and Non-alignment keeping national interest on the top. Friendly and cordial relations with neighbouring countries, particularly with India and China will be further strengthened on the basis of mutual respect, equality, co-operation and cordiality. The Nepalese territory will not be allowed to be used against any neighboring and friendly countries. Concerted efforts will be made to return the Bhutanese citizens living in Nepal as refugees to their country with dignity and respect. The relations with other friendly countries will also be strengthened and expanded. Nepal’s participation in the UN peacekeeping will be given continuity.

The Nepalese Missions abroad will be equipped with resources so as to making economic diplomacy more effective. In line with the policy of expanding diplomatic relations as needed, Nepalese Embassies will be established in South Africa, Brazil, Canada and Kuwait in the next fiscal year. In order to protect and promote the rights and interests of the Nepalese migrant workers and to provide appropriate assistance to those who are in difficulties, the appointment of Labour Attaches will be made.

The Government is firm in its belief that the national interests can be better protected with the unity and consensus among political parties. While safeguarding the sovereignty, national unity, territorial integrity, independence and self respect, national security, foreign policy, utilization of water resources and mobilization of foreign aid will be made according to the national interests of Nepal. The treaties and agreements inconsistent with national interests will be reviewed.

Timely increment will be made on facilities given to civil servants based upon the recommendations of the High Level Pay Commission in order to keep the morale of civil servants high, enhance their work efficiency and re-gain people’s confidence through fair and efficient administration. The recommendations of the administrative restructuring commission will be gradually implemented. In order to increase the efficiency of civil servants, arrangements will be made to impart training to officials of various levels and classes at least once in the next five years.

Rt. Hon Speaker,

In the background of the historic People's Movement, we had initiated a peace process of its own kind. The international community is as much interested in its success as we ourselves are enthusiastic and serious about it. By realizing the strong interest for peace of the Nepali people, there is a need for all parties to be responsible for implementing the understandings and agreements reached at different times including the Comprehensive Peace Accord. The Government is fully committed to take the peace process to a positive conclusion.

The Government of Nepal expresses its grateful thanks to the United Nations and the donor agencies who have assisted in the peace process and the socio-economic development of Nepal. The Government of Nepal is confident that it will continue to receive valuable assistance and solidarity from the international community in the accomplishment of Nepal's peace process, consolidation of democracy and in its socio-economic development.

Our commitment to making the constitution has been obvious by the fact that even when the Legislative-Parliament was obstructed, the task of making the new constitution was continuing. The interest shown by the Nepali people in making the constitution is appreciable. It is necessary to give continuity to the task of making the constitution, and there will be full cooperation of the Government in this. The Government of Nepal expresses its sincere thankfulness to all the political parties, the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, the Honourable Members and all others. The Government expects even more cooperation from all of you in the days ahead.

The present Government has taken the cooperation extended to us from all as an inspiration. We had taken the leadership of the joint People's Movement for democracy and peace by developing the twelve point understanding which was founded on the belief that additional achievements could be made only by facing challenges. We had made different agreements, understandings and decisions in the direction of peace and stability subsequently. We have succeeded in resolving the differences that had obstructed the Legislative-Parliament. It is self evident that the challenges ahead can also be tackled on the basis of dialogue, consensus and co-operation. Let us move ahead from darkness to light, from mistrust to trust, and from conflict to reconciliation. A peaceful, prosperous, equitable, strong and democratic Nepal can be built by positive thinking, optimism towards the future and our collective effort.

Thank you!