Kathmandu: Parliamentarians in today’s meeting of the National Assembly raised concerns over various issues including the lack of skilled healthcare professionals, technical labs, medical equipment, and medicines among others in the rural area. During the Zero Hour of the NA meeting, they urged the government to bridge the significant gap between the urban and rural health services by expanding everyone’s access to healthcare services.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Indiradevi Gautam called for policy intervention and adequate budget to address the health crisis in the rural areas, which she argued, stemmed from the absence of skilled doctors, nurses, technical labs, and lack of transportation service. Similarly, Ganga Kumari Belbase demanded that the government arrange adequate human resources and other supports in the country’s oldest hospital, Bir Hospital, to make its services affordable, accessible, and quality.
Gopi Bahadur Achhami drew the government’s attention towards the ongoing hunger strike staged by the Diktel Rupakot Majuwagadhi Municipality Mayor, raising environmental concerns. Meanwhile, Jagat Prasad Sharma called on the government to launch an anti-corruption campaign to promote good governance. He also expressed the view that those contributing economically in the nation-building effort should be honored on Republic Day and Constitution Day.
Tulasa Kumari Dahal demanded irrigation facilities in the drought-hit areas across the Madhes Province, in line with the pledge made by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. The Prime Minister had announced the immediate installation of 500 deep boring water systems in Madhes Province after inspecting the area, while the Home Minister had instructed the Chief District Officers of 21 districts in the province to search for prospective places to install the facility to address the acute water shortage caused by the prolonged drought.
Dahal also pressed for the effective implementation of the Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project in Kailali district, which was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. In today’s meeting, Maya Prasad Sharma questioned the implementation status of the resolution proposals passed in the NA, along with matters of public concern relating to the implementation of federalism, gender-based violence, Dalit rights, disability rights, minimization of road accidents, road safety, and inflation control among others.
Radheshyam Paswan condemned the traffic police’s brutality on motorcyclists in Chitwan and Pokhara and urged a curb on unnecessary troubles given by traffic police to riders and drivers under the pretext of traffic checks, while demanding an end to such brutality. Sumitra BC also raised her concerns, drawing the attention of the Home Ministry towards the increasing cases of violence against women and demanding justice for murder victims in Surkhet and Janakpur. She emphasized the need to bring the culprits to book.