Federal Parliament Initiates 4 Key Reforms in Winter Session

The winter session of the Federal Parliament commenced on Monday with a slew of new initiatives aimed at enhancing parliamentary effectiveness, activity, and vibrancy. In his opening address to the House of Representatives, Speaker Devraj Ghimire announced these practices, marking a significant step towards a more transparent and inclusive parliamentary process.

One of the key introductions is the unveiling of the parliamentary calendar, meticulously prepared by the Business Advisory Committee. This calendar outlines the topics to be discussed in both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly sessions, ensuring timely execution of parliamentary activities until February 27. Minister of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Dhanraj Gurung, emphasized that the adoption of this calendar will eliminate any confusion regarding meeting days.

Moreover, discussions on the principles and priorities of the budget, known as the pre-budget discussion, are underway during this session. The government introduced the ‘Economic Procedure and Fiscal Responsibility (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2024′ in the Parliament to facilitate the required legal procedures. Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat presented the ordinance, scheduling the deliberations on the principles and priorities of the budget to occur from February 12 to March 13. Notably, to address past challenges of excluding parliamentarians’ suggestions, the pre-budget dialogue will now commence during the winter session, starting from February 27.

Electronic attendance for members of the House of Representatives began on Monday, following the National Assembly’s earlier adoption of the technology. Additionally, the Federal Parliament introduced a new measure to enhance transparency by making daily attendance records of parliamentarians public. This move aims to streamline citizens’ access to information about the presence of lawmakers, which was previously accessed through the right to information.

In a bid to enhance parliamentary proceedings, Speaker Ghimire announced plans to actively incorporate feedback and suggestions from the public during this winter session. Describing it as a comprehensive review of parliamentary activities, Ghimire highlighted the crucial role of the people in a democracy. He expressed confidence that actively incorporating public feedback would yield tangible results and foster increased trust and confidence in the institution.

The winter session of the Federal Parliament signifies a significant departure from past practices, aiming for a more inclusive and responsive parliamentary process. With these new initiatives, the Parliament seeks to strengthen democratic values and ensure better representation of the people’s interests.