Day at a Glance: From Minister Lamichhane’s comment on Election Management Bill To PM Dahal’s comment on health insurance

7th April, Sunday: The major events of the day have been compiled in this segment ‘Day at a Glance!’

The major Headlines of the day include:

• Home Minister: EC’s proposed draft of the Election Management Bill aims to correct the electoral system
• Gandaki and Lumbini Province CMs assume office
• Chairperson Lingden warns to demonstrate by breaking the alleged prohibited area
• Minister Yadav: Citizens’ expectations for healthcare remain unmet
• Minister Sharma vows to discourage wrong tendencies
• PM Dahal: Payback of health insurance should be made simpler

1. Home Minister Lamichhane: EC’s proposed draft of the Election Management Bill aims to correct the electoral system

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs  Rabi Lamichhane has expressed his hope that the sovereign parliament will further enrich a draft of the Election Management Bill. Addressing an interaction organized by the Election Commission regarding the Election Management Bill and given the upcoming by-elections of the House of Representatives and Province Assembly on Sunday, Minister Lamichhane said the bill aims to strengthen democracy further and correct the existing electoral system and the contents capable of making the electoral system and parliament prosperous and further effective should be supported from all quarters.

2. Gandaki and Lumbini Province CMs assume office

The newly appointed Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, Jokh Bahadur Mahara, assumed the office amidst a function at the Office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers at Deukhuri, Dang on Sunday. After assuming the office, Chief Minister Mahara constituted a task force under the convenorship of the chief secretary at his office, Nirajan Ghimire, assigning it to prepare an action plan to clean up corruption in 60 days and to submit it to the Chief Minister. Mahara also vowed to forward development activities in the province by forging consensus among all stakeholders. Likewise, the newly appointed chief Minister of Gandaki Province Khagraj Adhikari assumed the office at the office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers here on Sunday. After assuming the office, CM Adhikari committed to extending the district hospital’s OPD service for 12 hours a day. The OPD service in the hospital will run for 12 hours- from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Province Chief Dilli Raj Bhatta appointed Adhikari, the leader of the CPN (UML) parliamentary party, as the Chief Minister on Sunday under Clause (2) of Article 168 of the constitution. Adhikari got support from 22 UML Province Assembly members, eight from the CPN (Maoist Centre), and one Independent member. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has expressed its dissatisfaction over the chief minister appointment process.

3. Chairperson Lingden warns to demonstrate by breaking the alleged prohibited area

Rashtriya Prajantra Party (RPP) Chairperson Rajendra Lingden has warned that he would break the prohibited areas set by the government and move forward. Organizing a press meeting at the party’s central office, Dhumbarahi on Sunday, Lingden said the prohibition areas designated by the government are not acceptable to RPP. Lingden urged the government not to intervene in the demonstration and create obstacles. He claims to have brought more than 50,000 people to the public demonstration. He even said the efforts to narrow demonstrations by declaring a prohibited area are not acceptable, stating the government was suppressing the right to protest under democratic activities given by the constitution.

4. Minister Yadav: Citizens’ expectations for healthcare remain unmet

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav has admitted that citizen’s expectations and requirements in the delivery of healthcare services have remained unmet. Interacting with media following his inspection of the Bharatpur Hospital on Sunday, ‘Available health facilities are not sufficient,’ said Minister Yadav. He said that the management of human resources, the strengthening of physical infrastructure structure, and the proper management and utilization of equipment remain the main challenges in the health sector.

5. Minister Sharma vows to discourage wrong tendencies

Minister for Communications and Information Technology (CIT), Rekha Sharma has said the government is consistently committed to promoting good governance, discouraging anomalies and wrong tendencies. Addressing the fifth meeting of the Press Centre Nepal’s central office-bearers on Sunday, She vowed to fight against aberrations and the wrong tendencies till the last moment. Minister Sharma said there is dominance of a limited number of people especially in the IT sector and the government had to face court cases time and again while trying to break that dominance.

6. PM Dahal: Payback of health insurance should be made simpler

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has suggested making the payback system for health insurance simpler to enhance the effectiveness of the health insurance scheme and to make it more service-oriented. Addressing the program organized to mark the Eighth Health Insurance Day on Sunday, PM Dahal stressed making the joint-payment system implemented by the Health Insurance Board service-friendly. ‘Provisions such as online registration of membership, a system for claiming at the right time, and technology-friendly insurance scheme are the challenge-targeted reformative plans,’ said PM Dahal.