KATHMANDU: During Thursday’s House of Representatives session, lawmakers expressed concern over the repetitive nature of the annual policies and programs for the fiscal year 2082/83, highlighting their failure to translate into effective implementation.

Lawmakers emphasized the need for serious consideration of the suggestions raised during discussions and the formulation of concrete plans accordingly.

Nepal Communist Party (Unified Socialist) lawmaker Prakash Jwala stressed the need to review the constitution to identify and address the issues observed in its implementation. “The policy program merely mentions constitutional amendment in one line, but no concrete action plan has been presented. We need a constitutional amendment that addresses people’s concerns with national consensus,” he stated.

Jwala further argued that constitutional amendments should prioritize public welfare, strengthen federalism by cutting down expensive electoral systems, reduce constitutional bodies, and secure the rights of marginalized communities, including women and Dalits.

Meanwhile, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Hari Dhakal criticized the repetition of unfulfilled projects in the new policy program, citing various examples. “It’s been a decade since the promise of agricultural self-sufficiency in two years, but where is the investment?” he questioned.

Dhakal added more examples, highlighting the 2075/76 policy program that promised self-sufficiency in fish production and the launch of an “Organic Nepal” initiative. “Today, poisonous fish are flooding the market, and domestic production still lacks market assurance. Organic farming and fertilizer production have been repeatedly emphasized, but nothing has been implemented,” he remarked.

Similarly, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmaker Bina Jaiswal noted that while some old plans were repeated in the policy document, there were also aspects to be hopeful about. “If initiatives like investment in ‘Gen-Z startups’ and access to drinking water for every household are realized, people will genuinely benefit,” she stated.