NA members stress on ending Chhaupadi tradition

Kathmandu: National Assembly (NA) members have urged the State to end the Chhaupadi tradition.

Saying girls could not remain safe due to this oppressive tradition, they stressed that the state should make necessary policies and effectively implement them to eliminate this tradition. In today’s meeting of the National Assembly, NA member Suresh Kumar Ale Magar objected to the rape incident that occurred at Chhaupadi hut in Achham district a few days ago, adding physiological compensation was necessary for the victim girl.

‘The girl should get justice and stern action should be taken against the perpetrator,’ he underlined. Stating that the people have not been able to feel the presence of the state, Krishna Bahadur Rokaya blamed the state for failure to show interest in resolving the existing problems of the people.

The government has not paid attention to resolving the problems of Jajarkot earthquake victims and the government should hear the pain of the victims, he mentioned.

Similarly, Tulasa Kumari Dahal stressed that the government should be serious about removing laxity in the country’s economy, adding there should be coordination among the government, cooperative and private sectors, as well as an investment-friendly environment, should be built to attract private investment.

Lawmaker Dahal suggested to the government to set the goal of economic reforms, utilizing the uncultivated land by growing fruits and vegetables. He stressed running programmes providing incentives to farmers.

Sabitri Malla said the government employees lacked motivation since their salary had not been increased and called the attention of the government to this. She stressed the need to promote the agriculture, forest and tourism sectors.

Lawmaker Malla also, through the parliament, called the attention of the government to make arrangements for providing timely relief to the families of those killed due to natural disaster incidents, appropriate medical attention to those injured, and food and accommodation to the affected people.

Tula Prasad Bishwakarma called for conducting an impartial investigation into the incident of rape on a teenage girl who was staying in Chhaugoth during menstruation that took place recently in Achham and to provide justice to the victim. He called on the government to pay attention to taking effective measures to root out corruption in the country, pointing out the need for devising stringent laws to deal with this menace.

Gopal Kumar Basnet complained that the budget appropriation for the next fiscal year was not in the best interests of the farmers. ‘The government should provide support for promoting the modern agricultural practices targeting the small farmers also. The agriculture production would increase and the country would become self-sufficient in agriculture if seed and fertilizer are provided to farmers on time,’ he added.

Gopal Bhattarai urged all the bodies concerned to be aware of the possible risk of monsoon induced disasters given the huge loss of life and property caused by the monsoon-induced disasters just in few days after the commencement of monsoon in the country.

He called on the government to devise a special plan for disaster mitigation and for relocating the citizens of settlements facing disaster risk and making provision for temporary shelters for them.