KATHMANDU:Tul Ptasad Bishwakarma has been a member in the National Assembly (NA) since the past three months. Over this time, he has both ‘bitter’ and ‘sweet’ experiences as the legislator.

The Parliament is the body reflecting the citizens’ supremacy. This is the venue for enacting laws,” he said, but in reality he has realised that lawmakers ‘overlooked’ the citizens’ concerns once they secure their seats in the parliament.

What I have experienced in the parliament is that a majority of lawmakers look for an opportunity to be in the government instead of focusing on public agenda,” he said. “Personal and political interests are dominant over the legislative responsibilities of lawmakers.”

He said the parties with majority of votes try to influence the parliamentary agenda and the large parties are focused on forming the government on the basis of political sharing, overlooking the agenda of citizens.

In his view, the effective implementation of the constitution is still awaited. The laws mandated by the Constitution have not been drafted. The implementation of existing acts has been weaker.

“Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offense and Punishment) Act, dating back to 13 years has not been enforced effectively. Dalits continue to face caste-based discrimination and torture while perpetrators are walking freely. They have not been brought to justice,” he said. More, the government is not serious about addressing the urgency to enact additional laws for the improvement of the rights of Dalits.

It is unconvincing and not a good gesture to bring ordinances when the parliament was functioning,” he said. The lawmakers questions the relevancy of federalism in Nepal-like geographically smaller country. “It is a costlier system for Nepal.”

He wanted the effective enforcement of laws and transparency in the government functioning for promoting the good governance in the country. Additional measures are needed to further improve the rights of women, Madhesi, indigenous, nationalities, Muslim and the citizens from the backward community, he stressed.

Lawmaker Bishwakarma stressed the need for an industrial development to discourage the plight of youths in search of abroad jobs. The applied and vocational education be adopted and promoted with a significant improvement in the existing education system.

Bishwakarma, the central advisor to the Rastriya Janamorcha, was born on Asoj 1, 2015 BS (September 17, 1958) in Baglung.
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