Meetings of parliamentary thematic committees affected due to COVID-19

Kathmandu - - Narayan Neupane The meetings of the various thematic committees under the Federal Parliament are to be affected due to the latest increasing risk of COVID-19. National Assembly, Delegated Management and Government Assurance Committee president Ram Narayan Bidari informed the committee's meeting today that no meeting of the committee would be called as far as possible for 15 days in the first phase considering risk of COVID-19 and the present situation.

"A question has been raised whether it was appropriate to convene the committee's meeting when the people and the country have been afflicted by COVID-19. And, after the discussions it has been agreed not to hold the committee meeting for 15 days as far as possible," he elaborated. According to him, whether or not to hold the committee meetings after 15 days would also be assessed on the basis of the situation then.

He urged the lawmakers to also take precaution and follow health safety protocols while travelling to the districts if they chose to do so in the next 15 days. In the case of several parliamentary committees it is even difficult to maintain social distancing while holding their meetings due to the lack of space.

However, the suggestion had come to continue the meetings of the Legislation Management Committee as many bills have to be prepared for the upcoming winter session of parliament and also because many bills have remained unattended in the committee. To address this problem, it has been informed that the committee can organize meetings in small groups at the sub-committee level by strictly abiding by all the stipulated health protocols.

Bidari said that however the right whether or not to convene meetings on this basis has been given to the president of the related committee. There are 10 thematic committees under the House of Representatives, four thematic committees under the National Assembly and two joint thematic committees under both houses.