Kathmandu: Lawmaker Sabitri Malla has underscored the necessity for 33 percent representation of women in the Council of Ministers. A member of the National Assembly, the upper chamber of the Federal Parliament, she expressed concern that the provision in Article 38 of the Constitution, which stipulates that ‘women will have the right to participate in all the bodies of the State on the basis of proportional, inclusive principles’, has not been fully implemented.
According to National News Agency Nepal, this constitutional provision should also apply to the formation of the Council of Ministers. Malla pointed out that Articles 91 and 92 need amendments to make them more accommodating to women. She emphasized the urgency for a united fight to secure more rights and implement the existing constitutional rights for women, Dalits, Madhesis, and indigenous communities.
Malla also highlighted the need for the government to create employment opportunities within the country. She urged the government to restart closed industries to provide jobs and sustain factories on the brink of closure. As a central member of the CPN (Unified Socialist) and an elected representative from Karnali Province under the women’s quota, she stressed the importance of prioritizing Karnali Province in the budget, advocating for its development with her parliamentary colleagues.
The lawmaker noted the role of the National Assembly as a permanent legislative body aimed at establishing and fostering an inclusive and democratic governance system, incorporating marginalized and endangered communities. Since becoming a member of the upper house, Malla has been focusing on drafting laws in accordance with the constitution and raising public issues with the government through parliament. Despite governmental instability, she reported no bills have been held up in the National Assembly.
According to her, the Development, Economic Affairs and Good Governance Committee, on which she serves, is actively addressing issues related to Nepal’s economy, public finance, governance reforms, and development projects among others. Malla highlighted the importance of coordination among local, provincial, and federal governments for full constitutional implementation, advocating for timely constitutional amendments as needed.
She stressed the enactment and strict implementation of an ‘Integrity Policy’ to further strengthen federalism. Addressing the ongoing pro-monarchy movement, she reminded that the federal democratic republic was established through significant sacrifices by the Nepali people, and it cannot be overturned by monarchist demonstrations. The only path forward, she asserted, is to continue refining and reinforcing the federal democratic republic.