Govt policies, programmes publicised; focus on new constitution writing, peace process

The new government on Wednesday publicised its much-hyped policies and programmes that focus mainly on advancing the ongoing peace process to a logical end and drafting a new democratic constitution on time.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav presented the policies and programmes on behalf of the Maoist-led government at the Constituent Assembly (CA) today. The policies and programmes stresses on taking the peace process to a logical end and writing a new democratic constitution within two years. The document focuses on writing the statute coordinating with all political parties within the specified time.

President Yadav said, "The government's principal responsibility is to assist in taking the peace process to a logical end, turning the socio-economic transformation towards a progressive direction and writing the federal democratic constitution, as per the people's aspirations, within specified time."

The government has also put forwarded an ambitious target of increasing the economic growth rate formulating a ‘transitional economic policy', along with the constitution-drafting process. To reach the goal, the president said, the government would stress on judicious distribution system, public-private partnership and infrastructure development.

Likewise, the government programmes include running peace campaign across the nation to maintain political stability for the economic transformation. For this, the coordination among the parties will be further expanded to lessen reduce differences among the parties in local level.

The president further announced, "As per the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and another commission for the search of the disappeared and publicising their whereabouts will be formed soon."

Regarding the foreign policy, the government will emphasise on the ties with neighbouring countries—India and China, and with other countries, the economic diplomacy will be the focal point.

In addition, the government will stress on other domestic issues as usual. The government will arrange a distribution system for the easy and smooth supply of daily essential commodities.

Similarly, the programmes emphasise on the institutional development of the federal democratic republic, inviting the armed groups active in the Terai for talks, implementation of the agreements made by the government with various groups in the past and sorting out the issue of PLA integration and rehabilitation within six months.

President Yadav also announced that the salaries of the government employees will be increased.

The government will now announce the fiscal budget to implement the programmes soon.
Source: eKantipur