Gandaki: The Province Assembly has been urged to ensure that the lawmaking process remains open, transparent, and inclusive. During a consultative meeting organized by Governance International Nepal and the Gandaki Province Secretariat, speakers highlighted the importance of incorporating citizens’ voices in policy and lawmaking.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the discussion centered on parliamentary openness, external oversight, and the practices of the provincial assembly. Bina Kumari Thapa, the Deputy Speaker of the Gandaki Province Assembly, emphasized that making parliamentary practice accountable and participatory creates an environment conducive to justice. “Parliament is a place for those elected by the people, so its activities must have deep links to citizen,” she asserted, noting that the Gandaki Province Assembly has increased citizen participation in the lawmaking process.
Prakash Baral, the parliamentary party whip of the Nepali Congress in Gandaki Province Assembly, shared that citizens have direct access to the Assembly, which informs people of its activities through optimal use of information technology. “The Assembly also receives experts’ input on the bills,” he added.
Former minister and Province Assembly member Saraswati Tiwari Aryal observed that while expert views are occasionally sought, a shortage of resources limits citizens’ feedback. Leel Bahadur Thapa, another member of the Province Assembly, remarked that it is time for the provincial mechanism to earn public trust.
Subject expert and journalist Krishna Prasad Sapkota presented on ‘parliamentary openness, oversight, and provincial practices,’ stating that open parliament practices not only link the lawmaking process to citizen concerns but also contribute to democratic values. He added that the effective role of oversight mechanisms in parliamentary activities is crucial for holding lawmakers accountable and aligning laws and policies with broader interests.
Secretary at the Province Assembly Secretariat, Govind Paudel, informed attendees that a total of 87 bills have been passed by the Gandaki Assembly so far.