NA members urge govt to prioritise agriculture, aim for self-reliance in food grains

KATHMANDU: Members of the National Assembly urged the government to prioritise agriculture and launch programmes to make the country self-reliant in food grains.

During the special time of the NA meeting, lawmakers called on the government to adopt policies that place agriculture at the centre of development planning and address the needs of vulnerable groups.

Meanwhile, Durga Gurung urged the government to design programmes that protect the rights and interests of the poor, marginalised and landless, while Samjhana Devkota pressed for measures to ensure self-reliance in food grains and seeds.

Likewise, Nara Bahadur Bista said appointments of university vice-chancellors must be carried out with transparency. Mohammad Khalid added that concerns raised about the holding centre should be taken seriously.

Bishnu Kumari Sapkota said political parties should not enrol children as members or use them for party activities. Somnath Portel asked the state to apologise and take policy steps to eliminate caste discrimination.

On provincial governance, Ranjit Karna pointed to weaknesses in the provincial structure that need correction and urged progress by addressing those gaps. Bishnu Bahadur Bishwakarma stressed that the provincial structure should be maintained and not abolished.

On social services, Rajendra Lakshmi Gaire called for continuation of the health insurance programme and demanded a nationwide solution to drinking water shortages, including a pledge of one tap per household in Madhesh Province.

(With inputs from RSS)