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Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Nepal Lila Peters Yahia today paid a courtesy call on Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal. 

A comprehensive discussion was held at the meeting on contemporary issues such as Nepal-United Nations collaboration, youth engagement, education, gender equality, diplomacy, and climate change, the Speaker's secretariat said. 

On the occasion, Speaker Aryal welcomed the UN Resident Coordinator and expressed the firm commitments on behalf of the Government of Nepal and the Federal Parliament to work in tandem with the United Nations. 

Highlighting remarkable participation of youth in the House of Representatives formed after the recent general election, Aryal described it as an epochal achievement in Nepal's democratic practice. 

"After the election, we are focused on advancing performance-oriented works," Speaker Aryal said, adding that, "Empowering youth and engaging the experience of previous generations is the need of the hour." 

He mentioned that increasing women's participation is essential for strengthening inclusive democracy. 

He clarified that the Parliament would lay its focus on effective lawmaking to bring improvements to fundamental sectors such as education and health through the coordination of experience, energy and capabilities across generations. 

Shedding light on Nepal's contribution to the peacekeeping mission, Speaker Aryal stated that Nepal is among the leading contributors to the United Nations peacekeeping missions. 

He also expressed commitment to making appropriate decisions through necessary studies in line with Nepal’s national interest regarding international treaties and conventions. 

Regarding the climate change issue, Speaker Aryal noted that although Nepal has insignificant carbon emissions, it is severely experiencing direct and disproportionate impacts. "The glaciers are melting rapidly, livelihoods are being affected and the frequency of disasters is increasing," he said, "Nepal has been continuously raising its voice at international platforms for climate justice." 

On this occasion, Residential Coordinator Yahia congratulated Speaker Aryal on behalf of the UN Secretary-General and the UN team in Nepal, lauding Nepal's democratic achievement. 

She noted that successful conduct of elections and forming a youth-oriented parliament after a transitional period is exemplary not only for Nepal but also for the world.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane has said that the government will take responsibility for the proper management of homeless citizens.

In the informal meeting of the RSP Parliamentary Party held today at Singha Durbar, he stated that the government will ensure that no one becomes homeless during the management of settlements in disaster high-risk areas.

"Repeated notices have been issued to squatters in risky areas to relocate them to safe locations in a smooth manner. There is concern about the safe dwelling of citizens forced to live near drains and flood-prone areas, and it is the government's duty to be concerned about everyone's future," said RSP spokesperson Manish Jha, quoting President Lamichhane.

Lamichhane said that the problems related to squatter settlements across the country would be promptly addressed by forming a special commission.

"The government will not let any squatters be homeless; suggestions for necessary coordination are welcome, but unnecessary politicisation should be avoided. Forcing anyone to live at risk of floods and near sewers for 'vote bank' politics is wrong," he added.

'Ordinances are for necessary governance reforms, not to harass anyone'

President Lamichhane said that the government had recommended ordinances to meet public expectations and make necessary reforms.

"Until the past unnecessary partisanship and wrong appointments are corrected, the people’s expectations from this government cannot be fulfilled. Previously, the ordinances were used to split parties or suppress the opposition. The current practice is not to hurt anyone or provide favors to anyone; it is for necessary reforms," he said.

Stating that this step is a practice carried out within the legal framework, he said, "It also demonstrates how serious the RSP is towards law, political conduct, and the democratic system, even without the parliamentary committee chief of the opposition calling for the same.

The RSP President said that he is ready for any necessary facilitation in case anyone has difficulties while fulfilling duties as a people's representative. 

He also requested not to always wait for the meeting and to put forward one's views in writing in the RSP Parliamentary Party. .

Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Bhishma Raj Angdembe has nominated Kamaladevi Pant as the leader of the party's parliamentary group in the National Assembly, the upper house of the Federal Parliament. 

He has nominated MP Pant to that position according to the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party statute (including amendments and modifications, 2083).

Similarly, the Nepali Congress has stated that leader Angdembe has nominated Abhisek Pratap Shah as the deputy leader of the Parliamentary Party, Basana Thapa as the Chief Whip, and Nishkal Rai as the whip in the House of Representatives on behalf of the party.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has made public the activities it carried out in the last one month. 

Since the assumption of office by Minister Dr Bikram Timilsina, the ministry argued it made significant improvements in public service delivery.

The 100-point good governance agenda announced by the government was put into practice by the ministry with introduction of new tasks and intensification of delayed ones. 

The ministry claimed it intensified the works relating to printing smart driving licenses, courier service, expansion of telecommunications, reform in cyber security and administrative reform.

The minister took special initiative to end the protracted printing of smart driving license cards. Now, the government has planned to hand over the licenses  within 24 hours since the receipt of data from the Transport Management Department in case of new applicants. 

The cards are printed in the Security Printing Press.

As per agreement, 1.2 million copies of license cards have been printed. 

The department and center have made an agreement to print 1.7 million more license cards by the end of this fiscal year.

Similarly, the center  has printed three million copies of postage stamps and provided them to the Postal Service Department. 

A concept of 'government courier service' has been forwarded to modernize postal service. 

This scheme has been enforced in Kalikot, Sindhupalchok, Banke, Kaski, Sunsari, Makawanpur, Myagdi, Siraha, Dadeldhura and Gulmi districts for the initial phase and is being expanded to others gradually.

The postal code having five digital is getting upgraded to seven digital as per federal system so that citizens could be provided service at their convenience.

The performance list goes to improvement in telecommunication service by making it friendly to consumers. 

All packages of pre-paid mobile service have been expanded to 30 days from 28 days. 

The 'pay and you go' system has been revised to ensure all-time mobile functioning.  

The ministry decided to provide 800 MHZ additional bands to enhance 4G quality. 

Expansion of 5G is also charted out. One time KYC and all online have been forwarded.

Nagarik App has entered into a digital Nepal campaign where various services relating to Nepal Police, engineering, public service, exams, certificates and entrance papers of university are available. 

The Passport Department and the Transport Department are interlinked to avoid dual and burdensome data collection.

The government websites are being upgraded to the international standard for security and accessibility. 

As many as 11,000 betting Apps and websites are disbanded through Nepal Telecommunications Authority.

The government's scheme 'zero pending file' is in place to give impetus to ending plodding administrative works. The new performance indicators of employees is another feature in this sector.

Agreement has been received in principle from the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary on draft bills of Information Technology and of Cyber Security. 

These will create a solid legal base for digital governance and prevention of cyber crimes.

New programs on Athpahariya Rai and Mudiyari languages have been launched in Radio Nepal, while installation of high quality optical fibres from Nepal Television studio to parliament building is another move to digital drive.

The Ministry began a process to conduct monitoring of various frauds relating to foreign employment via social networking sites.

Policy reform, improvement in technical service and direct benefits to citizens are highly prioritized by Minister Timilsina.