Kathmandu, July 21: After I became a Member of the House of Representatives (HoR), I got an opportunity to learn many things about parliamentary practices and lawmaking. It is different from what we watch from outside and the experience at parliament.
With my 14 months in the capacity of HoR Member, my perspective towards parliamentary practices is changed. Earlier, I had superficial views on parliament role and functions.
The federal parliament is at work for lawmaking, which is positive in deed. Many policies are made. The lawmaking process is rigorous with several rounds of discussion at parliament committee meetings. Once all lawmakers actively engage in the pressing issues, good law is possible.
I have been reiterating that parliament is a clean place, temple of good governance. People’s representatives should continuously raise public concern and voices. I also raised the problems facing the chhurpi entrepreneurs from my district, Ilam, which forced government to pay heed to tax issues and entrepreneurs face the problems no more.
Although voices have been raised from different sides with the need for constitution, I believe it is essential to know how the present constitution came into being. It is brought after long struggle and huge sacrifice. There are many provisions in constitution that need review. It is equally relevant and significant whether we made sincere and sufficient efforts to implement constitution. Did we work well to enforce human rights provisions as guaranteed by constitution? It is better we mulled provisions in the constitution rather than running after outside issues.
Only law making is not enough, its effective enforcement is imperative. Rather than voicing for constitution amendment, serious review of status of constitution implementation is essential.
However, there are some problems in system, which deserves proper address.
Blaming electoral system is not an escape. We not only regarded those with campaigning and better awareness while ignored honesty in politics. Election should not focus only the educated people but honest and committed as well. Those having good knowledge of geography, national status and people’s aspiration can be prioritized.
Study out-migration from multiple lens
In my opinion, youths’ out-migration is not only linked to youths but also to every aware citizen. Not only youths but those even above 50-year are leaving country for better facility and jobs abroad. Youth exodus has links to other issues in addition to employment. State needs to ensure adequate services. Where are the problems – in service, process, employment or youth entrepreneurship? Let’s identify the concerns and act accordingly. Together with this comes status of citizen’s health and education. So, out-migration of youth can be studied from several perspectives.
The government is doing from its side, but efforts are inadequate. Agriculture and tourism bear significant potential in Nepal, which require investment strategically. If agriculture and tourism are prioritized and activities forwarded accordingly, the journey to prosperity could be much easier. I involved in inspection of the construction of many roads and government buildings. But the road construction and maintenance were found subpar in quality. It was also found that even the projects making 80 percent progress with guarantee of investment were totally reversed owing to snail-paced infrastructures like roads.
Maintain restraint in parliament
In the parliament, all parties should be unified to resolve the problems facing people and country. Dialogue is the vital tool to sort out difference. What is going on in the parliament at present is wrong, the activities of some parties are inappropriate. Presenting in the parliament in a restrained manner adds value. Not only the Nepali Congress, the CPN UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) but all other parties should bear equal responsibility towards nation.
Rather than trading individual blames in parliament, voicing with evidence counts much. Entire party can work to correct its members. Improvement has no alternative.
(Views based on an interview given to Chief Reporter of RSS, Narayan Neupane, and reporter Sushil Darnal. Nembang is the son of late lawmaker Suhang Nembang. He was elected from Ilam constituency no 2 for House of Representatives from CPN UML in March last year following his father’s demise. Suhang is one of the youngest HoR Members).
