On 4 July 07, the coalition government of 8- political parties led by Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala presented its annual 'policies and programmes' giving emphasis on the upcoming constituent assembly polls, improvement in the security situation and reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed during the armed conflict.
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Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala delivering his brief speech prior to the presentation of government's Programmes and Plicies for the comming fiscal year in the legislative parliament
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Addressing the parliament session, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala urged all sides to work together in holding the CA election in a peaceful manner. He said that one day comes in one era and that day is 22 November in case of Nepal. He added that the 22 November CA polls will end all fossils of old era and will bring new era. He said "Youth of Nepal need not fight another battle for democracy and this should be the last battle."
Commenting over the government policy, a senior leader of CPN (Maoist) Mr. Dinanath Sharma said that his party is not encouraged by the government's policies and programmes.
Sharma said he wants to term the policies as 'transitional' one. "There are many lapses in the policies but it has come through understanding," Sharma added. He said that the policies ought to have clearly laid down the objective to establish republic in the country. He also criticized the economic policies saying it is foreign-dependent one.
Senior minister Ram Chandra Poudel, who holds the Peace and Reconstruction portfolio, read the government's policies and programmes on behalf of the Prime Minister.
Some of the main points included of the policy statement are listed here;
· The policy document states that efforts will be made in "significantly improving the security situation" and create proper environment for free and fair election.
· The government would empower and mobilize the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force throughout the country, especially in Terai, to control the violence in an effort to create conducive environment for the polls.
· Special law would be enforced to stop all kinds of disturbances in highways
· The policy document, which is largely based on the past agreements between the Maoists and the seven parties, also aims to facilitate in 'democratization' of the Nepal Army and make it national in character. Rehabilitation and integration of the People's Liberation Army are also in the government's priority list.
· As announced earlier by the ruling 8-party alliance, the government will start process to nationalize the state properties used by King Gyanendra and set up a trust to manage the properties of late King Birendra and his family.
· The United Nations and other independent national and international agencies will be invited for the monitoring of the November 22 polls.
· State restructuring commission will be formed to work out the structure of the federal system.
· A Taskforce will be formed to work out for the proportional and inclusive participation of Madhesis, Dalits, indigenous communities, women, workers and peasants, disabled and backward communities in all the organs of the state structure.
· A three-year interim plan to lay the foundation of prosperous, modern, federal , inclusive and just Nepal will be implemented
· The government plans to link five regional headquarters with national highway network.
· Government would also bring an integrated programme for economic and social transformation of the Nepali society and implement the scientific land reform programme.
· Rehabilitation of the ex-Kamaiyas, distribution of land to landless, involving community in education sector, increasing school enrollment, expanding the programmes for technical education, developing university as research centers and establishment of an agriculture university are also in the government's priority list.
· The restructuring of the health services, providing free health services to the poor and strengthening the capacity of the health posts in remote areas will implemented with priority.
· The government has made commitment to complete the Melamchi water project in time.
· To achieve the targeted economic growth, the interim government will carry on with the policy to prioritize the agricultural sector, involvement of the private sector and promotion tourism and foreign employment.
· The foreign relations will be guided by the nonalignment policy while giving high importance to the ties with the two immediate neighbors, India and China.
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