Mar 16, Kathmandu- In today's meeting of the House of Representatives, lawmakers have expressed dissatisfaction over the issue of providing lifelong benefits to former distinguished office bearers.

During the emergency session of the meeting, Nepali Congress lawmaker Ram Krishna Yadav has expressed the view that former distinguished office bearers should not be provided with benefits. He said that it is not appropriate to provide lifelong benefits to former distinguished office bearers when the country's economy is weak.

“The issue of drafting a law to provide lifelong benefits to former distinguished officials has been reported in the newspapers,” he said. “The country is going through a weak economic situation. In such a situation, the issue of providing lifelong benefits to former distinguished officials is unacceptable.”

MP Yadav said that he had heard that a draft law was being prepared to provide lifetime allowances, house rent, vehicles, and staff and assistants for the secretariat to former presidents, prime ministers, former speakers, former national assembly chairmen, former constitutive assembly chairmen, and former chairmen of the council of ministers. He stressed that such issues should not arise in the context of the country’s weak economic situation, lack of healthcare, and youth migration due to unemployment.

He said that there are some elements that are weakening the federal democratic republican constitution and drew attention to be aware of it.

Devendra Poudel of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal to provide service facilities to former distinguished officials at a time when the country's economy is weak and the people should be given relief and confidence.

Prakash Jwala of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) expressed the view that facilities should not be provided to former distinguished officials in a way that would add additional financial burden to the state when the country's economy is in decline.

Chief Whip of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) Parliamentary Party Mahesh Kumar Bartaula drew the government's attention to the damage caused to various wards due to the recent storm in Thaha Municipality of Makawanpur. He demanded immediate relief to the affected locals. Stating that nearly 100 houses in Wards 3, 4 and 5 of the municipality were damaged due to the recent storm accompanied by hail, he drew the attention of the Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard.