!* April, Kathmandu: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress (NC) has demanded formation of an all-party monitoring mechanism at local level, blaming partiality in the distribution of relief in most of the local levels led by ruling parties. A meeting of the office-bearers of the NC today made the demand calling for ensuring judicious, transparent and well-managed distribution of relief being delivered to people in predicament due to lockdown.
NC office chief secretary Krishna Poudel shared that the meeting decided to draw government’s attention over the delay of outreach of relief budget announced by the federal and state governments to the designated area and people, and urge to immediately reach out the budget to the target beneficiaries. The meeting also lauded the role of its leaders and cadres as well as people representatives in arranging drinking water and meal to the citizens on the way back to their homes on foot.
The NC has again asked the government to immediately make necessary arrangements for taking the embattled citizens to their homes. The party has also decided to urge the government to waive loan interest for certain period and reduce the rate taking into account the unfavourable situation facing all kinds of businesspersons. Poudel said the meeting has also demanded to widen the scope and speed of corona virus tests through mobile test camps as well as demanded separate arrangement of ‘Corona Treatment Centre’.
Taking seriously the sporadic incidents of misconducts to frontline health workers in different areas, the NC has called for government attention for effective coordination between health workers and security personnel to prevent such incidents in the future. The main opposition party has also demanded to provide adequate quantity of PPEs to health workers and daily essentials to the general public.
It has also demanded suspending those involved in irregularities in the procurement of medical appliances so as to make the investigation effective. The meeting also decided to extend best wishes to all those associated with the Nepal Student Union (NSU) in the past and present on the occasion of its founding day (Baisakh 6), today. It has appealed to all Nepali students to place high safety measures and work with special responsibility in the security of community and nation during such crisis situation.
