Kathmandu— Nepal’s House of Representatives convened on Tuesday to debate a variety of pressing national concerns, with lawmakers urging the government to address problems including a shortage of cooking gas, difficulties faced by migrant workers, inadequate healthcare facilities, and discriminatory practices within proposed legislation regarding passports. A central point of discussion was the potential legalization of cannabis cultivation, presented as an opportunity for economic growth and employment generation, while other members focused on immediate needs like ensuring consistent access to LPG and improving conditions for Nepali citizens working abroad.

Cannabis Legalization Debate

CPN-UML lawmaker Rajendra Kumar Rai advocated for the immediate legalization of cannabis cultivation, arguing it could significantly boost Nepal’s economy and create jobs. He highlighted that young people in his Dhankuta constituency were facing legal repercussions for cultivating cannabis, and called for a regulatory framework to permit its growth and processing within Nepal.

Rai emphasized the medicinal and economic potential of cannabis, suggesting it could reduce outward migration from hill districts and allow Nepal to participate in the global market for cannabis-based products, citing developments in neighboring India as an example.

Migrant Worker Protections

MP Balawati Sharma voiced concerns over the ongoing issues faced by Nepali migrant workers, noting the continued influx of deceased workers and a backlog of fraud complaints at the Department of Foreign Employment. She called for amendments to relevant laws and proposed granting district administration offices or police the authority to investigate foreign-employment fraud cases.

Sharma also urged the government to ensure that work permits are only issued after careful consideration of applicants’ skills, aiming to better protect Nepali citizens seeking employment abroad.

Healthcare Access And Government Spending

Lawmakers raised concerns about overcrowding and poor conditions in public hospitals, with MP Basumaya Tamang reporting instances of patients being forced to sit on the floor while receiving treatment. She urged the Ministry of Health to improve hospital management and ensure dignified care for all citizens.

MP Basana Thapa criticized government spending on ministers’ foreign visits and medical treatment, contrasting it with shortages of basic medicines and relief supplies in Karnali, arguing that the state should prioritize the welfare of all its citizens equally.

LPG Shortages And Alternative Energy

Several MPs addressed an acute shortage of cooking gas (LPG) reported across various parts of Nepal. Despite assurances from a minister that no shortage existed, MP Mohanlal Acharya stated consumers in his district were struggling to obtain LPG and called for intensified market monitoring and investigation into potential artificial shortages.

Acharya also proposed reconsidering the five percent VAT on electricity to encourage households to switch to electric power as an alternative to LPG, advocating for greater investment in renewable energy programs. MP Yagya Bahadur Bogati questioned why imported gas wasn’t reaching consumers despite government claims of adequate supply and urged a more systematic distribution system.

Passport Bill Concerns

Discussion also centered on the Passport (First Amendment) Bill, 2083, with lawmakers raising concerns about discrimination and security. CPN-Maoist Centre lawmaker Barshaman Pun criticized a provision requiring women to make a self-declaration when applying for passports, deeming it discriminatory and inconsistent with constitutional equality guarantees.

Pun also called for clear legal provisions regarding passports for children born abroad from sexual violence where the father’s identity is unknown. He cautioned that involving the private sector in collecting passport information could pose security risks, while MP Padma Kumari Aryal advocated for stricter controls to prevent misuse of diplomatic passports, linking issuance to official necessity.

The issues raised by MPs are expected to be taken up by relevant government ministries for consideration and potential action, with ongoing debate anticipated as Nepal seeks to address these critical challenges.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.