Lumbini Provincial Assembly has unanimously passed the bill on the rights of Dalits. Speaker Tula Ram Gharti Magar had presented the bill for decision in the 14th meeting of the seventh session on Tuesday.

Speaker Gharti Magar announced the bill was passed unanimously based on a voice vote. Social Development Minister Janmajya Timilsina had presented a proposal in the meeting to discuss and pass the ‘Bill with a report on the rights of Dalits’.

In the meeting, Agriculture, Forest and Environment Committee Chairman Bishwaprem Pathak presented the committee’s report on the ‘Bill on the management and regulation of pesticides in the province’. Similarly, Physical Infrastructure and Development Committee Chairman Ramji Prasad Ghimire presented the committee’s annual report in the assembly.

In the meeting, Provincial Assembly members raised various contemporary issues. Provincial Assembly member Bhuvaneshwar Chaudhary said that the state that protects the people should not cause suffering to the people and said that the implementation of plans and the resolution process should be made easy. He said that even though there is a budget for development, it has not been effectively utilized. Stating that the federal government's policy has caused suffering to the people, he also said that imposing customs duty on goods above Rs 100 is problematic.

Provincial Assembly member Shanti Lod demanded to solve the citizenship problem in the Mayadevi area of ​​Rupandehi, and Provincial Assembly member Neelam Paswan demanded to operate a transport service from East Parasi to Bardiya via Taulihawa in Lumbini Province. In addition, the Provincial Assembly members raised the issue of the poor and needy citizens being affected by the strictness imposed by the federal government on customs.

Provincial Assembly member Bhagwati Kumari Tharuni has urged the rollback of the price hike, saying that the fuel price hike has affected everything from cooking to the agricultural sector. Provincial Assembly member Sudhakar Pandey had requested not to ban the import of wedding and worship materials, stating that citizens of the border areas are facing problems due to the federal government's new customs policy.

Provincial Assembly member Ambika Kafle demanded a solution to the problems of e-rickshaw drivers. She said that it is difficult to obtain a license due to the educational level of the drivers and the written examination system, and many drivers are illiterate and are operating vehicles without a license.