Kathmandu— During a meeting of Nepal’s House of Representatives, lawmakers raised concerns about rising incidents of violence against women and urged the government to enact stricter laws with harsher punishments for offenders. The parliamentarians also addressed issues including road safety, repatriation of deceased Nepali citizens from abroad, disaster relief, and encroachment on religious sites, highlighting a range of pressing national challenges.

Calls for Enhanced Legal Framework

Pramila Kumari Gachchhadar demanded the immediate presentation of legislation focused on women’s security to the House, emphasizing the need to guarantee protection for girls. Several other MPs echoed this sentiment, calling for impartial investigations and strict action in cases involving the killing of girl children. The lawmakers collectively stressed that a stronger legal framework is unavoidable given the increasing prevalence of violence against women.

Addressing Citizen Safety Concerns

Ain Bahadur Mahar highlighted concerns about preventable deaths caused by negligent drivers and poor road conditions, urging government attention to improving road safety measures. Tika Sangraula raised the ongoing difficulties in repatriating the bodies of Nepali citizens who die abroad, suggesting that the government prioritize a permanent solution to this issue. Bipin Kumar Acharya called on the government to facilitate arrangements for Nepalis needing to return home urgently.

Local Issues and Religious Preservation

Manish Jha reported ongoing efforts in Janakpur to remove encroachments from religiously significant ponds, emphasizing the need to clear all such illegal constructions. Other MPs, including Shraddha Kunwar, Balawati Sharma, Santosh Rajbanshi, Khadak Bahadur Budha, Shahjan Khatun, Bharat Bahadur Khadka, Prem Bahadur Bayek, Sajida Khatun Siddhiqi, Prakash Pathak, Neenu Kumari Karna, Pramila Kuluju, Rabin Mahato, Hari Mohan Bhandari, and Som Sharma also voiced concerns on various current issues.

The parliament is expected to further discuss these issues in upcoming sessions, with the government likely to respond to the lawmakers' demands for action.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.