Government Defends Ordinances Amidst Opposition Criticism

Kathmandu. The government has come to its own defense after opposition parties raised questions about various ordinances recommended by the government. After four opposition parties jointly issued a statement of protest, Prime Minister Balendra Shah's secretariat attempted to justify the necessity of these ordinances and provided information about them.

Deepa Dahal, the Prime Minister's Press and Research Advisor, stated that the Council of Ministers meeting on Baisakh 14 had recommended these ordinances to the President with the objective of returning funds to small depositors in cooperatives, making land and revenue services more effective, and organizing political appointments in public bodies.

Relief for Cooperative Depositors and New Regulations

Most importantly, the government has introduced an ordinance to amend the Cooperative Act, 2074. Under this, a provision has been made to establish a 'Chakra Relief Fund' to immediately return savings to members of problematic cooperatives.

Furthermore, the secretariat stated that savings and credit-focused cooperatives will now be required to obtain an operating license, and their regulation will be tightened.

The government has also recommended another ordinance to make special arrangements regarding the dismissal of public officials. Dahal explained that the main objective of this is to dismiss officials appointed on political grounds in the past and to move forward with public bodies in a new way. Along with this, amendments to the act have been proposed to streamline the working procedures of the Constitutional Council and to adapt appointments in universities and health science academies according to new criteria.

What will the president who previously withdrew the bill and put the ordinance on hold do now?

According to the secretariat, the 'Some Nepal Acts Amendment' ordinance has been introduced to resolve legal complexities found in about 20 acts, including land, land measurement, revenue, education, forest, and insurance. Additionally, amendments have been proposed to the Public Procurement Act, 2063, to make the public procurement process timely and transparent.

While opposition parties are accusing the government of trying to rule by ordinance, bypassing parliament, the government claims these steps are essential to remove obstacles in service delivery and solve citizens' problems. The Prime Minister's secretariat asserts that these ordinances are purely for public welfare and administrative reform.