Unofficial Translation

Policies and Programmes of the Government of Nepal for Fiscal Year 2072-73 (2015-16)

Presented by

Rt. Hon. President, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav

at the Meeting of the Constituent Assembly/Legislature-Parliament

Government of Nepal

Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Singh Durbar, Kathmandu

www.opmcm.gov.np (Wednesday, 8 July 2015)

The Policies and Programmes of the Government of Nepal for Fiscal Year 2072-73 (2015-16)

Mr. Speaker,

1. I feel honoured to present the Policies and Programmes of the Government of Nepal for the Fiscal Year 2072/73 at the Constituent Assembly/Legislature- Parliament formed with the fresh mandate of the Nepalese people. On this occasion, I offer my heartfelt tributes to the immortal martyrs who attained martyrdom in fulfilling the desire and will of the Nepalese people to write their constitution by themselves, and to all late sisters and brothers who lost their lives in the devastating earthquake of 25 April and its aftershocks, and express condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the early recovery of those injured.

1. Following the earthquake, the Government did not leave any stone unturned within its capacities in carrying forward immediate search, rescue and relief works and in ensuring the supply of essential relief materials. Services were made smooth through repair and maintenance of infrastructures including damaged basic services, electricity, communication, hospitals, drinking water, roads and bridges. I highly appreciate and thank all public servants who worked round-the-clock risking their lives in providing services, and organizations, political parties, general public, and the assistance and solidarity of neighbours and friendly countries with generous heart at this massive disaster.

1. Meanwhile, the expeditious commencement of the constitution writing based on the recently developed political agreement has aroused hope and trust among Nepalese people both living at home and abroad and foreign friends. I heartily appreciate the dynamic efforts to carry forward in parallel the tasks of national reconstruction in the aftermath of devastating earthquake and writing a federal democratic republican constitution from the Constituent Assembly. I am fully confident that now the Nepalese people will receive the constitution written by themselves as soon as possible.

1. Ordinance on Reconstruction Authority has already been issued for completing reconstruction of damages caused by earthquake within five years. Friendly countries and donor agencies have generously announced assistance at  the  "International  Conference  on  Nepal's  Reconstruction".  The crucial responsibility of completing reconstruction works in time has fallen on the shoulders of us all while also utilizing the assistance to be received. The Government will fulfill this responsibility effectively.

1. Sustainable rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damage caused by disaster is a huge challenge for us. In order to face this challenge, short-term, medium- term and long-term work plans for rehabilitation and reconstruction will be formulated and implemented by assessing the damages. Since we live in high- risk seismic zone, required policy, institutional arrangements for reduction of such disasters and programmes based on them will be formulated and implemented nationwide in coming days.

1. Service delivery will be made smooth by completing repair and reconstruction of government buildings and residences, schools, health institutions, drinking water and sanitation, roads, electricity, industrial installations and structures of local bodies by using earthquake resistant technology. Plans for integrating settlements will be implemented in areas highly affected by earthquake based also on opportunities of livelihood and market access. The disaster management capacity of security agencies will be enhanced to cope with earthquake damage and possible natural disasters in future.

1. Reconstruction, conservation and promotion of archeological, historical and cultural heritages will be carried out with priority to develop them as attractive and safe tourist destination by restoring the tourism sector to pre-earthquake condition.

1. Making the public and private structures earthquake resistant as a campaign and constructing of fireproof structures will also be conducted as a campaign throughout the country. Public and private investments will jointly be advanced to complete reconstruction works. For such reconstruction, the use of indigenous technology and raw materials will be given priority.

Mr. Speaker,

1. In order to deliver transitional justice in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappearances, which could not be constituted for a long time, have been constituted and have already started their functioning. From this, the remaining tasks of the peace process will be easier to complete. The election of the local bodies that could not take place for a long time will be held within this fiscal year.

1. Zero tolerance policy will be adopted against corruption. All promotional and preventive measures of corruption control will be adopted while identifying the agencies and sectors that are at risk of facing irregular acts. While making the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority equipped with means, resources and modern technology, the institutional capacity of National Vigilance Centre will be enhanced. In order to conduct technical audit of development projects, the laboratory of the Center with adequate facilities will be established and the quality of construction works will be examined.

1. Required infrastructure and institutional arrangements will be made to enhance the reliability of public auditing and to adopt accounting system based on information technology.

1. Institutional capacity of all constitutional bodies will be enhanced and required means and resources will be arranged.

1. While reviewing the policies and programmes with the goal of graduating Nepal from the status of a least developed country to that of a developing country by 2022, Vision 2030 will be formulated and implemented to bring Nepal to the standard of a middle income state by 2030. While reviewing the current Thirteenth Plan, the Fourteenth Plan will be formulated in coming days for building a just, prosperous and modern Nepal.

1. The budget of the next fiscal year will be focused towards reconstruction of damages caused by earthquake, energy, development of physical infrastructure, commercialization of agriculture, industrial development, tourism promotion, employment generation and social development while contributing to the economic growth. Discouraging the tendency of appropriation of budget without detailed feasibility study, policy will be adopted appropriating budget only for projects that have completed pre- construction phases. Emphasis will be laid on timely completion of the past projects that are yet to be completed.

1. The concepts of public-private partnership and cooperatives and community based people's participation will be brought to implementation to reactivate the economy while normalizing the effects and sluggishness caused to major sectors of economy by the earthquake. Implementation capacity of projects will be enhanced by applying performance-based incentive system in the large-scale projects as well as those of national pride. Required law will be formulated and brought to implementation to resolve such problems as acquisition of land and compensation that are surfaced in the infrastructure development including electricity, roads and drinking water.

1. The recommendations of High-level Tax System Review Commission will be gradually implemented. While promoting voluntary tax participation, new sectors of revenue will be identified and scope will be expanded to increase the tax base. Laws related to money laundering will be effectively implemented.

1. While reforming the performance of public enterprises, enterprises of similar nature will be merged. The lands of public enterprises that are not in operation will be utilized and used for public interest.

1. The households having houses damaged by earthquake will be provided with loan for reconstruction at concessional interest rate. Interest and loan payment schedule will be reformulated in the affected areas including on the basis of the limit of loan, financial condition of the borrowers and damage.

1. Controlling unproductive expenditure in reconstruction and rehabilitation, transparency and financial accountability will be ensured. For this purpose, effective arrangements will be made for project approval, budget release, book-keeping, expenditure report, monitoring and evaluation and auditing.

1. The procurement process for reconstruction will be made easier, transparent and reliable in the special circumstances after earthquake and other disasters. Consolidating electronic procurement system, electronic information communication method will be developed in the management of public procurement.

1. Nepal Public Sector Accounting Standards will be gradually implemented in central-level agencies to harmonize financial reporting system with international standards. The revenue management information system implemented in the Kathmandu valley will be extended to additional districts. Accounting system based on computer technology will be implemented in all agencies of the Government of Nepal.
2. In order to control increasing current expenditure, operation costs will be deducted and long-term obligation of public expenditure will be reduced. To make it predictable, contribution-based pension system will be implemented this year itself for newly appointed civil servants, Nepali army, Nepal police, armed police, teachers as well as all other public personnel.

Mr. Speaker,

1. While prioritizing the national need of the country, the hydropower development master-plans in the Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali and Mahakali basins will be updated for obtaining optimum benefits as per the integrated management and river-basin concept of the water resource sector. The Water Resources Act will be amended for integrated and sustainable development of water resources. Nepal Electricity Authority will be restructured. The private sector will be included in the construction of the transmission lines as per the build-and-transfer model. The Water and Energy Commission will be restructured and made competent.

1. A master-plan for inter-country transmission line will be prepared. The policy for encouraging investment in hydropower production by ensuring people’s ownership through a partnership among the public sector, local bodies, co- operatives and private sector on the basis of the concept of ‘People's Electricity, People's Investment ' will be continued.

1. Priority will be given to the identification, study and development of multi- purpose and reservoir-based hydropower projects for electricity supply. The construction work of Budhigandaki Hydropower Project with the reservoir- based capacity of 1200 megawatt will be initiated. Similarly, a detailed project report will be prepared for Nalsinghgad Hydropower Project with reservoir- based 400 megawatt capacity. The Naumure Multipurpose Project will be run under the institutional structure.

1. Arrangements will be made to complete the ongoing hydropower generation, transmission and distribution projects in time. The study and design works for new hydropower projects will be carried out. By operating the existing hydropower centers in full capacity after necessary maintenance and by developing grid and solar energy, the load-shedding in the coming dry season will be reduced to maximum eight hours a day.
2. Emphasis will be laid on developing renewable alternative energy for the smooth power supply. The electricity produced by the sugar mills will also be utilized for the smooth power supply in the dry seasons.

Mr. Speaker,

1. The food and nutrition security will be ensured through increasing the production and productivity of the agriculture sector. Collective, cooperative and contract farming will be promoted while emphasizing the specialization and commercialization of agriculture.

1. With a view to orienting women, poor, marginalized, landless and the people who are economically and socially backward, to their livelihood through cooperative businesses, capital grants will be provided to the cooperatives that establish and run the industries on fruit farming, agriculture, live-stock farming, and fisheries under public-cooperative partnership.

1. To substitute fruits and vegetables imports, emphasis will be laid on increasing production and installing cold stores. A base for self-reliance in rice will be prepared by declaring 12 paddy farming districts of Terai region as special pocket zone. Commercial agriculture programmes will be launched by focusing on the youths of Route, Chepang, Musahar, landless and marginalized people, freed Kamaiya and haliya (bonded labourers) and kamlaries (indentured servitude of girls). An arrangement of subsidies and grants in agriculture will be made to attract youths to commercial farming. The President Best Farmer Award Programme will be extended.

1. The use of organic fertilizer will be increased. The soil acidity will be improved by providing grants to the companies wishing to establish agricultural lime factories. Ponds will be constructed in investment partnership in the districts of Terai for fish farming.

1. A land-use map of all the 75 districts will be prepared within five years to sustainably utilize the land resources. The survey maps will be improved by utilizing the newest technologies. The services relating to land administration will be made available online. Legislation on land will be introduced. The geodetic survey control points damaged in the earthquake will be reestablished and upgraded.
   1. Emphasis will be laid on the construction of inter-watershed, water transfer and reservoir-based multi-purpose projects in order to provide reliable irrigation service round the year by expanding the irrigated area for farming. Detailed study and project proposals of Sunkoshi-Kamala, Sunkoshi-Marin, Kali Gandaki-Tinau, Thuligad-Kailali and Kankai high-dam projects will be prepared. Medium, lift and tube-well irrigation projects, Karlani and Seti Irrigation Development Programme, the third phase of the Mahakali Irrigation Project will be carried forward. Similarly, Sikta, Rani Jamara Kulariya and Babai Irrigation Projects will be continued with a view to completing them as soon as possible. The construction work of the Bheri Corridor Multipurpose Development Programme and Bheri-Babai Diversion Project will be moved forward.

1. The rehabilitation works for the Koshi Pump Canal, Chandra Canal, Kamala, Bagmati, Narayani lift, West Gandak Canal and Badganga Irrigation Projects will be carried forward.

1. Rehabilitation works in the areas affected by the landslide in the mid-western and Jure of Sindhupalchowk last year and the works for protecting vulnerable settlements will be completed. The conservation of Susta area and the construction for a bridge will also be carried forward.

Mr. Speaker,

1. As envisaged by the Forest Policy, 2014, programmes that contribute to local and national prosperity will be launched.

1. Laws will be formulated to regulate and control the international trade of endangered wildlife and plants. Wildlife garden and rehabilitation centers will be established to manage and protect the wildlife. Similarly, relief distribution will be made easier and effective by creating structures that reduce the human- wildlife conflicts.

1. Forest will be scientifically managed. Management of community, leasehold, collaborative, protected and religious forests including the community-based forest will be developed and expanded. Agriculture and forest development programme in both private and public lands that are not used for farming in the Terai-Madhesh and Mid-Hills will be launched. For making the “President Chure   Preservation   Programme”   more   effective   and   for    sustainable management of Chure and Terai-Madhesh area for integrated development, a masterplan of Chure area will be implemented, and a separate legislation will also be formulated.

1. The adverse effects of climate change, natural disaster, deforestation, pollution and desertification on human health and environment will be reduced. Weather forecasting and flood forecasting systems will be made scientific and reliable.

Mr. Speaker,

1. One point service center will be established to provide national and foreign investors with a facility of all services from one point. An arrangement for re- operation and re-management of the sick industries will be made. Timely amendments will be made to the Company Act, Quality and Metrology Act and Mine Act.

1. New industrial zones and corridors will be developed. In addition to bringing into operation the Bhairahawa Special Economic Zone, the infrastructure construction works for the Simara and Panchkhaal Special Economic Zone will be carried forward. If the private sector manages lands on its own, assistance in minimum infrastructure construction will be arranged for developing it into industrial zones.

1. Export promotion will be encouraged by increasing the production of the goods that reflect Nepali art and culture. Priority will be given to the use of national goods in the public offices.

1. Youth will be encouraged towards entrepreneurship at home through youth entrepreneurship and special industrial human resource development programmes. Micro-enterprise development programme will be extended.

1. The national seismological centre will be equipped with physical infrastructure and modern equipment. Study of the earthquake impact in the earthquake affected districts and geo-engineering of the rehabilitation areas will be conducted. Construction works of geological museum storing rock samples and Nepal’s geological structure will be initiated.

1. Trade deficit will be reduced through the export promotion by increasing the production of goods and services. Emphasis will be laid on improving the quality of exportable goods and services by revising Nepal Trade Integration Strategy, 2010. Timely review will be made to the cash encouragement in export.

1. In addition to the early completion of the construction of the dry port at Larcha of Sindhupalchok, construction works of a dry port at Timure of Rasuwa will be initiated by land-pooling. Construction works of a container freight station and an international standard trade exhibition venue at Chovar of Kathmandu will be initiated.

1. Special programmes on promoting the production of traditional food items in remote areas will be launched. Arrangements will be made for the smooth supply of food grains in the remote and mountain districts.

1. The construction of Amlekhgunj-Raxaul Petroleum Pipeline will be started for the smooth supply of petroleum products. Private sector will also be involved in the supply of petroleum products. In order to reduce the increasing import of fuel, private sector will be encouraged in the production of bio- diesel.

Mr. Speaker,

1. The policy of ‘One Family, One Cooperative Member’ will be introduced. Merger of cooperatives of similar nature will be encouraged. The Department of Cooperatives will be provided with adequate resources. To reduce the risk facing financial cooperatives, arrangements will be made to safeguard the members’ savings and loans up to certain ceiling. ‘Cooperative Saving Safety Fund' and 'Cooperative Loan Investment Safety Fund’ will be established. Development of productive cooperatives will be promoted.

1. ‘Poor family identity card’ will be distributed in the 25 districts where poor family identification survey has been completed. Similar survey will be launched in the remaining districts.

1. District headquarters of Humla and Dolpa will be connected to the national roads network in the coming fiscal year. The construction of Mid-Hills Highway, Seti-Mahakali Highway and Kaligandaki, Koshi and Karnali Corridors will be expedited. Feasibility studies for Bheri and Rapti corridors will be conducted.

1. Extension of some part of the East-West Highway and the bridges along it into four lanes will be started. Narayanghat-Mugling road section will be upgraded.

1. Construction of Kathmandu-Terai/Madhes Expressway will be initiated. Construction of the Postal Highway and the bridges along it will be completed soon. The works of extending the business routes such as Rani-Itahari- Dharan, Birgunj-Pathlaiya, Belhiya-Butwal, Kohalpur-Nepalgunj and Jatahi- Janakpur-Dhalkebar into six lanes will be continued. A detailed project proposal of the Thankot-Nagdhunga tunnel way and a comprehensive project report of the tunnel way of Butwal-Dobhan part of Sidhhartha highway will be prepared. Lamosangu-Jiri road will be upgraded. Construction of Bardibas- Jaleshwar road will be initiated after preparing the detailed project report. Repair works of Mithila region roads and construction works of greater Janakpur ring road will be initiated. Construction works of possible provincial roads will be continued. Roads damaged by the earthquake will be repaired and reconstructed with priority.

1. Road extension programme in the Kathmandu valley will be continued. In addition to commencing the construction works of ring road in Pokhara, a Master plan on the Pokhara Valley Development will be framed and implemented. Road extension programmes will also be introduced in other major cities. Construction of Bardibas-Simara section of East-West Electric Railway will be continued. Feasibility studies for metro-rail, mono-rail, ropeway, cable car and waterway will be carried out and their construction will be initiated including in the involvement of private investors.

1. An environment friendly vehicle and transport policy will be formulated and implemented. Conversion of the vehicles registered as per the prevailing laws into the environment friendly vehicles will be encouraged. Provisions on providing facilities on the import of heavy passenger vehicles meeting specified standards will be implemented. In order to lessen the increasing road accidents, drivers will be trained and social awareness raising programmes launched.

Mr. Speaker,

1. Considering the post-earthquake needs and with a view to supporting the safe and sustainable settlement and urban development, Risk Sensitive Land-Use Plan will be framed and implemented in the Kathmandu valley and other parts of the county including on the basis of geo-structure, capacity and appropriateness.

1. The ‘Janata Aawash Karyakram’ (People’s Home Programme) targeted to the highly disadvantaged, indigent, dalit, endangered and marginalized communities will be continued in a gender-friendly and inclusive manner. Long-Term Strategic Master-plan will be formulated and implemented for the integrated physical development and management of the Kathmandu valley. Gardens will be developed in the open areas of the major cities including in the Kathmandu valley. National Building Code, 2003 will be reviewed and implemented in all municipalities.

1. Model city development programme will be continued in twelve places including the ten places at Pyuthan, Surkhet and along the Mid-Hills Highway. Integrated urban infrastructure development programme will be initiated in Dhangadi, Attariya, Bhimdatta and Jhalari municipalities of the far-western region. A Master-plan on Smart City will be formulated for the Kathmandu valley, Lumbini, Nijadh and other districts that are hard-hit by the earthquake. Construction process of earthquake resistant green cities will be started. Damak (Eastern Region) and Kohalpur (Mid-Western Region) will be developed as green municipalities.

1. Drinking water and sanitation programmes will be launched with a view to providing the citizenry with basic drinking water and sanitation facilities by 2017. In order to ensure the service of arsenic-free drinking water in all Terai- Madhes settlements and villages, arsenic prevention drinking water projects will be launched.

1. Construction works will be carried forward to complete Melamchi Drinking Water Project within 2016. A detailed study for headworks and tunnel construction will be conducted to fetch, in the second phase of the Project, additional 340 million litres of water daily to the Kathmandu valley from Yangri and Larke rivers. Drainage system of the Kathmandu valley will be properly managed. Drainage construction works at Sundarijal to Sundarighat portion of the Bagmati River will be completed and a programme will be introduced to make other tributaries sewage-free.

Mr. Speaker,

1. System will be introduced for undertaking district-level programmes at the local level. Rural roads constructed at the local level will be upgraded to make them operational for transportation throughout the year. Construction of suspension bridges at the most essential areas will be expedited.

1. The village development committees, merged on the basis of population, geography and infrastructure for transforming them to competent local authorities, will be provided with additional grants as encouragement and service of related agencies will be enhanced. Such village development committees will be gradually converted into village councils and municipalities.

1. Mobilization of the mechanisms from the centre to the village levels will be made effective in order to discourage the criminal activities like human trafficking. Arrangements will be made to control gender violence. Vocational skill development training will be provided to widows and girls affected by the earthquake. The Kathmandu valley will be made ‘street-children free’ and this campaign will be extended to other cities.

1. Arrangements will be made for providing free education to the vulnerable children at local residential schools. Close monitoring will be carried out to prevent child labour. Capacity of single women, dalits, persons with disabilities, ethnic communities, conflict victims and socially and economically backward class and communities will be enhanced through inclusive and gender-friendly employment programmes.

1. Work on long term rehabilitation of the fully incapacitated, indigent, destitute and persons with disabilities will be extended.

1. Programmes enhancing the role and responsibility of the family will be encouraged in order to help the senior citizens live in a familial environment. Senior citizens’ social security allowance will be increased. Policy on providing rebate to the senior citizens in health and transportation sectors will be enhanced.
   1. Prevailing legislation concerning organization registration will be replaced for making the business of the organizations systematic, transparent and decent and for undertaking the registration and regulation of such organizations by the single authority.

Mr. Speaker,

1. Pashupati Area will be made more attractive and convenient for tourists by conserving its the religious and cultural significance. Infrastructure development and promotional programmes of Pathivara, Halesi Mahadev, Baraha Kshetra, Ridi, Sahlesh Fulbari, Gadimai, Simaraungadh, Devghat, Muktinath, Manakamana, Swargadwari, Sristhanpanchakoshi, and Badimalika will be carried forward with priority. Art, literature and creation garden will be built along with constructing Siddhartha-Yasodhara monument in Pokhara and integrating it with Buddhist Circuit.

1. Nepal Academy, Nepal Music and Theatre Academy and Nepal Fine Arts Academy will be strengthened to research and promote such genres as language, literature, history, fine arts, music and theatre within the country. The authors of language, literature, fine arts, music and theatre sectors will be honoured and appreciated. Nepal's largest statue of Gautam Buddha will be established in Damak, Jhapa.

1. A campaign will be conducted, through Diplomatic Mission and non-resident Nepalese, to disseminate information about the actual situation in the aftermath of the earthquake that most of the heritages are safe and it is also safe to visit Nepal. Promotion and marketing of tourism sites of Nepal will be carried out in the international market including in neighboring countries- China and India.

1. Capacity expansion and services and facilities of Tribhuvan International Airport will be upgraded according to international standards. To minimize the air traffic at this airport, domestic air service companies will be encouraged to operate air services designating airports of outside Kathmandu as base stations.

1. Along with completing the construction of Gautam Buddha International Airport within the stipulated time, the construction works of Pokhara Regional International Airport will be initiated completing the remaining process. Concluding  the  acquisition of  land  and boundary demarcation works,   the construction work of Second International Airport at Nijgadh, Bara will be carried forward. The construction works of the airports, whose construction was initiated focusing on different tourism sites, will be completed.

1. Domestic airports will be reclassified taking into account physical infrastructure, air traffic density and future business possibilities. By studying the feasibility of the construction of airports, one airfield will be established in each remote hilly district.

1. Addressing the aviation security interest of International Civil Aviation Organization, Nepal's aviation security will be made compatible with international standards. The process of bringing in strategic partners in Nepal Airlines Corporation will be carried forward.

Mr. Speaker,

1. Along with converting Radio Nepal and Nepal Television into public broadcasting institution, the broadcasting will be transformed into digital system. Mass media policy will be formulated also encompassing electronic communication media.

1. Network of optical fibre will be extended nationwide through Rural Telecom Development Fund. This fund will be mobilized to provide broadband internet facilities in the earthquake affected districts. Internet service will be provided through wireless technology in places where it is difficult to bring optical fibre. The feasibility study of establishing Nepal's own satellite in space will be concluded.

1. Legal provision will be made to regularize the operation of online media. Information transmission will be made reliable and dignified by amending the code of conduct of the media sector. Provision of the renewal of F.M. radio upto the capacity of one hundred watt from the respective district will be made. The capacity of the National Information Commission will be enhanced for the protection of the Right to Information.

1. The Postal Service will be transformed into a modern and information technology-based service. Legal provision will be made for security printing in the country itself. National News Agency and Gorkhapatra Corporation will be developed as self-reliant media by enhancing capacity.

Mr. Speaker,

1. Along with amending the Education Act, a High Level Commission with full authority will be established for restructuring of education sector and quality education. Higher Education Reform Plan will be brought into implementation for reforming quality and management of higher education.

1. Residential schools will be brought into operation in suitable places targeting the weak, dalit and indigent classes of mountainous and remote districts and Terai. Elementary child development programme will be conducted. Provision of the free residential education will be made for the children of earthquake affected districts who have lost parents, and are shelter less and at risk. Residential schools with facilities will be operated in each development region. Partnership rogrammes between community and institutional schools will be encouraged.

1. To improve the quality of school education, 'One School One Library', and 'One Secondary School One Laboratory Programme', will be given continuity. Teachers' performance evaluation will be tied up with results and number of their posts will be reviewed. Students studying higher education will be tied up with national voluntary service in cooperation with the universities.

1. Higher secondary education will gradually be oriented towards technical education. To increase national productivity through creating self- employment in the country and developing entrepreneurship, the access and capacity of youth employment targeted short-term training programmes will be enhanced. Dalit and Muslims girl students and students of endangered caste will be given special incentives in technical education.

1. To make the medical education organised and dignified, a national policy on medical education will be formulated. A policy of establishing health science institutes in all five development regions will be adopted. From this fiscal year itself, free education at post graduate level at public institutes will be arranged. In accordance with the policy of establishing colleges in all five development regions in the field of agriculture and natural resource management, a college for agriculture will be established in Pokhara of Western Development Region this fiscal year.
   1. An access to basic and quality health services for all will be provided through effective implementation of National Health Policy, 2071. National Health Insurance Programme will be expanded to increase the ease of access of people to health services. To provide qualitative services at the District Hospitals of all 75 districts, ICU (Intensive Care Unit), Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit, Senior citizen treatment unit and comprehensive emergency maternal and infant care center will be established.

Mr. Speaker,

1. Arrangements will be made to provide health services on regular basis with the formulation of public health policy. Integrated Health Service will be implemented in the most remote places. Arrangements will be made to make the specified free medicines available for 24 hours. For this, medicine procurement system will be improved and provisions will be made for the supply of medicines according to the local needs.

1. Specialist services will be made available for the non-communicable diseases even at the Regional Hospitals. To treat and control communicable diseases that can cause epidemics: infrastructure, human resources and lab service will be expanded. Health services will be made effective with the fulfillment of vacant posts. "A doctor for every village" will be implemented. Mother and infant mortality rate will be reduced by making the treatment service free for 28 days after birth of the infant. Special groups with means and resources will be created to provide health services at the time of crisis. Trauma related services will be expanded.

1. A center for herbs research, collection, and processing for Ayurvedic medicines will be established and the production of quality medicines and farming of medicinal herbs will be promoted. Provisions will be made for emergency airlifting services in the remote places. Central, regional and zonal hospitals will be decentralized and a satellite hospital with specialist service will be brought into operation. In every municipality a hospital will be established with at least 15 beds.

1. Youths will be made self-reliant by providing them with professional, employment oriented and leadership development related trainings of both long and short time period. The youth power will be mobilized with the creation  of  opportunities  of  employment  and  self-employment.  In the earthquake affected regions, the youths will be made skilled for reconstruction and hence employed. Youth Vision- 2025 will be implemented.

1. Number of games will be increased in the President Running shield run at school level and more players will be encouraged to participate in the games. The construction works of the international cricket ground at Mulpani, Kathmandu will be carried out with promptness and 8 more cricket grounds will be built in various places of Nepal. The improvement works of Kirtipur International Cricket Ground will be concluded. Keeping the 13th SAG in mind, a covered hall with the audience capacity of 5000 will be built and the works for a stadium of international standard will be started. ‘One Electorate, One Sports Ground’ program will be continued. The concept of ‘One Sport, One Academy’ will be carried forward. A master-plan for sports will be prepared and implemented.

1. To make the Scout activities effective, Scout trainings will be run at school level. Trained Scouts will be encouraged to volunteer during the times of crisis.

1. Unified social security law will be made and unified programme will be brought into operation. A mechanism consisting of government, employment provider and labourer will be arranged to solve the conflicts that arise between employment provider and labourers. The welfare and security of labourers and employees will be assured by running social security programmes based on contribution.

1. Awareness programmes will be run at local level to control fraudulent activities facing the Nepalese youths going for foreign employment at different stages. For the rights, welfare and security of migrant workers, bilateral labor agreements will be concluded with major destination countries. Provision will be made for rapid rescue of labourers who have become physically disabled and fallen victims to violence during their foreign employment. Works will be carried forward for the establishment of Labor Bank.

1. The government is committed to protecting human rights of citizens. Home administration will be strengthened and made capable and effective. To ensure and create an environment where common people can freely exercise their rights and to maintain peace and security, all kinds of criminal activities will be effectively controlled. Information Technology will be used to great extent to guarantee security.

1. National Identity Card distribution work will be started and information of all the identity cards distributed by different government agencies will be integrated into this. Immigration system will be improved as per the international standards. From this fiscal year, Online Visa System will be started which will convert into e-visa.

1. Crisis Management Law will be made concurrent. Based on the experience of crisis management resulting from the earthquake, all provisions will be made at central and local level for crisis management.

1. Necessary means and provisions will be made for post-disaster search and rescue works. To make the search, rescue, relief and rehabilitation works during post-disaster effective, crisis management training centers will be established in every security agency to make them well equipped with means and resources.

1. Work plan regarding present reconstruction will be implemented because of the unequal ratio of number of prisoners and the capacity of prisons across the country and dilapidated conditions of the prisons and the damages caused by the earthquake. Construction works for the proposed central prison in Nuwakot and regional prison in Banke will be started. By amending the current laws regarding prisons, new concepts of prison management such as open prison and rehabilitation house will be implemented.

1. Integrated Service Centers will be established in order to deliver effective services to the citizens. Arrangements of barrack and residence will be made for security agencies in each district headquarters. The Construction works of the proposed Police Academy at Panauti of Kavrepalanchowk and Armed Police Force Training Academy at Matatirtha, Kathmandu will be carried forward. Necessary additional positions will be created in Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department. Special programmes will be launched to empower all District Administration Offices and to ensure good governance.
2. Foreign policy will be executed on the basis of the United Nations Charter, principles of panchasheel and international law while maintaining Nepal’s sovereignty, national integrity and independence. The friendly relations with all friendly countries, particularly the neighboring countries India and China, will be strengthened on the basis of mutual interest, equality, cooperation and cordiality. Coherence between national security policy and foreign policy will be maintained. The Diplomatic Code of Conduct, 2011 will be effectively implemented by making timely amendments to it.

Mr. Speaker,

100. Economic diplomacy will be made result-oriented by increasing the resources of the Nepalese missions abroad and by mobilizing them effectively. Policy will be adopted to utilize the capital of the Non-Resident Nepalese, their skills and investment for the economic and social development of the country. Preparations for the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit will be undertaken.

101. Live enrollment system will be implemented by the end of 2015 and all hand written passports will be replaced with the machine readable ones. Preparations will be completed for introducing electronic passport system.

102. Diplomatic relations with different countries will be extended as per Nepal’s interest and on the basis of necessity.

103. Transitional management plan will be prepared for necessary preparation of restructuring civil administration befitting federal structure. Recommendations of the report on administrative reforms will be gradually implemented. Electronic governance system will be utilized and extended to make public service delivery more effective, credible and reliable.

104. Civil Servants Welfare Fund will be established and Employees Health Insurance Programme will be implemented. The knowledge, skills and competence of the retired civil servants will be utilized in formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of government policies and plans and in enhancing public service effectiveness for nation building.

105. Modern technology will be used for recruitment of personnel and online application system of Public Service Commission will be put into effective implementation.

106. Measures will be adopted to make free legal aid effective in order to guarantee and help realize people’s access to justice. The judiciary's strategic plan will be implemented with a priority to make justice delivery continuous, effective and credible. Judiciary will be equipped with resources and technology. As per the concept of rule of law, necessary legal reforms will be introduced including in   civil and criminal justice system.

107. Integrated laws on election will be formulated. A bill concerning political parties will be submitted to the legislature-parliament to ensure transparency of political parties’ expenditures. Distribution of permanent voters’ identity card will be continued by collecting and updating voters list with photographs. Voters registration process will be initiated in order to ensure the voting rights of Nepalese living abroad.

108. Those providing information on the property of ex-king will be encouraged. A programme will be introduced under a master plan on the public utilization of land, building, share and cash property of Nepal Trust.

Mr. Speaker,

109. A major natural catastrophe has befallen the Nepalese people even before getting rid of the protracted transition and the wounds of conflict. At this difficult time, it is necessary to move forward, on the basis of cooperation, consensus and collaboration, towards building a prosperous nation through reconstruction of damages caused by devastating earthquake and lead the country on the path of sustainable peace.

110. The country is on track to complete the constitution writing process. With the draft preparation of the constitution, the long awaited aspiration of the Nepalese people for a democratic constitution through the constituent assembly is being materialized. As per this aspiration of the Nepalese people cherished over six decades, the Government has been fully cooperating including through dialogue, cooperation and collaboration with all political parties. It is my firm belief that this esteemed Constituent Assembly- Legislature Parliament will be successful in fulfilling the responsibility and accountability towards people by promulgating the new constitution in time.

111. I expect full and active cooperation from all towards adopting and exercising an indigenous, progressive-inclusive governance system for socio-economic transformation and sustainable peace of the country while entering into a natural path of democratic exercise following the completion of the writing of the constitution and the end of the current transition.