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The Election Commission has received applications from 100 political parties for the proportional election system. These parties submitted their applications before the deadline for the proportional category of the House of Representatives election, which is set for March 5. 

The Commission had designated the registration period for parties aiming for the proportional election from December 7-9.

According to the Commission, during this timeframe, a total of 100 political parties applied for the proportional election system. Among the applicants, there are parties that have opted for a joint election symbol as well as those that have chosen a single election symbol. 

The Commission has indicated that it will conduct a thorough review of the applications received and aims to approve them December 12. As per the Commission's schedule, the closed list for proportional representation is to be submitted on December 28 and 29.

Following a necessary review of this list, the preliminary list will be released on January 19. Claims, objections, and required scrutiny will take place regarding this list, with the final list expected to be published on 3 February. 

Out of the 275-member House of Representatives, 165 members will be elected through the direct election system, while 110 members will be elected via the proportional representation system.

Non-life insurance companies have so far paid out only 18.7% of the total claims filed for losses arising from the Gen Z protests of September 8 and 9, according to updated figures from the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA). 

The two days of violent unrest, marked by arson, vandalism and clashes between security forces and protesters, resulted in extensive damage to public property, business establishments, vehicles and private homes.

Of around 3,300 claims amounting to approximately Rs 23.44 billion received by insurers, companies have made advance and parietal payments totaling Rs 4.38 billion to policyholders, the NIA said.

Property insurance has accounted for the largest share of losses. Out of 710 property claims worth Rs 19.88 billion, insurers have so far settled about Rs 3.21 billion. Similarly, out of 2,308 motor insurance claims valued at Rs 3.47 billion, payments totaling Rs 1.08 billion have been made as of December 3..

Engineering and contractor’s risk policies have seen 225 claims worth Rs 555.5 million, of which insurers have settled Rs 68.1 million. Transport insurance accounts for 12 claims valued at Rs 16.8 million, with payouts of Rs 6.6 million. Under the “other” category, insurers have paid Rs 4.9 million against 45 claims totaling Rs 384 million.

According to the NIA, 1,984 of the total claims are linked directly to arson and vandalism in Kathmandu and several districts. Seventy-four people were killed in the protests, which escalated after police used excessive force to disperse crowds. Hotel Hilton Kathmandu alone reported damages of around Rs 8 billion, making it one of the largest individual losses.

All fourteen non-life insurance companies and four microinsurers have reported exposure to losses from the protests. Seven companies have liabilities exceeding Rs 1 billion each.

Oriental Insurance has received the highest claim totaling Rs 5.14 billion from 40 policies, followed by Siddhartha Premier Insurance with Rs 4.93 billion across 258 claims. Shikhar Insurance ranks third in terms of claim value, with 366 cases totaling Rs 2.39 billion. IME Prudential Insurance has 24 claims worth Rs 1.59 billion, while Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance has reported 233 claims amounting to Rs 1.47 billion.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has sought cooperation from all sides to accomplish the elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) member in the stipulated time. 

The Prime Minister informed that formulation of laws required for the safety and identity of human rights defenders, initiative to make foreign employment safe and dignified, and preparation and implementation of the sixth human rights plan of action are the key priorities of the incumbent government. 

In her message of best wishes on the occasion of the 77th International Human Rights Day today, PM Karki reiterated the government's commitment to place robust measures and actions against corruption while clarifying that maintaining good governance is the goal of the government. 

Noting that human rights would not be protected without an enabling environment of transparency and accountability, she said the government is unswervingly moving ahead to this path. 

"Free and fair elections are the soul of democracy. It is the fundamental duty of the State to create an environment for citizens to select their representatives without fear, greed and pressure. The government is committed to make the upcoming March 5 elections further cost effective, transparent and tech-savvy". 

The Head of the Government has expressed her confidence to create an atmosphere for security personnel to be deployed for election to deliver with high confidence. 

The PM also urged all political parties to unobtrusively participate in the elections by assuring the right to vote of the eligible Nepali people and also respect, protect and promote human rights so as to make the democratic exercise such as election a success. 

"Nepal's peace process has inspired the globe, but the backlog of transitional justice is yet to be addressed. The government is fully aware of the issue. The transitional justice would not be complete until conflict survivors are assured of justice,”she asserted. 

The PM expressed her belief that the concerned mechanisms would be successful in bringing the process to confidentiality and keeping victims at the centre on the basis of the prevailing laws and consensus. 

Saying that the government has been emphatically protecting the autonomy, independence and effectiveness of the national human rights commission as a watchdog of democracy, the PM pledged to execute the recommendations of the Commission. 

She mentioned that institutional and physical infrastructure, human resources and budget management will be further strengthened to keep the Commission in 'A' category. 

"Climate change has emerged as another challenge today for the protection of human rights. Although Nepal is a country with minimal carbon emissions, it has had to bear the most severe impacts of climate change. Climate-induced effects such as melting glaciers, unpredictable weather cycles, floods and landslides, and rising temperatures are directly affecting every aspect of our lives, including food security, health, habitation and education". 

She stated that the government is actively moving forward by strengthening national and international partnerships in adaptation, risk reduction, sustainable development, and climate justice. 

Prime Minister Karki added that with the core intention of sustainable development goals, the government is continuously moving towards poverty reduction, gender equality, social justice, inclusivity, peace, and prosperity. The obligations under international human rights treaties to which Nepal is a party are being fulfilled in a timely manner, she noted. 

"Human rights are not merely the legal arrangements; they should be our social conduct. Sustainable peace, good governance, development and prosperity could be obtained only when we all act together to transform human rights to everyday culture", she stated in her message. 

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has stated that the government is prepared to take the toughest possible measures against corruption. 

Speaking at a program organized by the National Human Rights Commission in Lalitpur on Wednesday to mark the 77th International Human Rights Day, Prime Minister Karki said that corruption is the greatest challenge to human rights, and the government will not hesitate to take stringent action against it.

She remarked that corruption is not only an economic irregularity, but a serious human rights violation that deprives poor, vulnerable, and marginalized citizens of their fundamental rights. 

Prime Minister Karki emphasized that human rights cannot be safeguarded without transparency and accountability, asserting that the government is moving forward firmly in this direction.