Rupandehi, Sept 19: State 5 minister for internal affairs and law Kula Prasad KC has said those affected by the conflict at home had sacrificed much for change in the nation.
In his address to a programme on the theme of ‘ break the silence; end impunity’ organised in Butwal Wednesday by the National Network of Conflict Victim Women, the minister promised that the government would never forget sacrifices and dedications they made for big achievements in the country.
“Republic was possible due to the sacrifice of conflict survivors and the government will well acknowledge it,” he said.
As he said, the state government has guaranteed free medical treatment for those left injured and mutilated during the armed conflict that had run for around decade in the country.
“Last year, the government treated 60 people carrying bullets and shrapnel in their bodies. Free treatment facilities are available at the Lumbini State Hospital,” he said, adding that a package programme had been designed keeping the interest of conflict affected in the center.
He went on to say that activities of Commissions formed in the past to investigate into the cases of human rights violations dating back to the conflict era turned out to be ineffective and new commissions to be constituted in the future would deal with the issues effectively.
State Assembly members Kamala Bishwakarma, Deepa BK and Rina Nepal expressed their hope that the state government would address the issues of conflict survivors.
Butwal sub metropolis representative Sita Thapa, National Human Rights Commission state 5 chief Samjhana Sharma, UN Women’s Sama Shrestha, Network chair Chandrakala Upreti, NGO Federation central vice chair Sumitra Sharma, rights activists Gyanu Poudel and The Story Kitchen’s chair Jaya Luitel advised the government to come up with programmes capable of providing relief and social justice to the conflict survivors.
A drama and an art exhibition manifesting the violence during the armed conflict were parts of the programme.
