Social Justice Key for Socialist Constitution, Says PM Prachanda

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said that social justice was the most important aspect for the implementation of socialism-oriented constitution.

At the sixth Social Security Day organized by the Social Security Fund here today, PM Dahal said, “Social security scheme is instrumental for implementation of socialism-oriented constitution. Therefore, this programme is a matter of pride for entire people who aspire to establish a socialist State.”

Dahal expressed his happiness for the homework of the Fund that was going to consider healthcare services also for the families of beneficiaries. According to him, this scheme would be the best example of ensuring everyone’s easy access to healthcare services.

The head of the government pledged utmost support from the government to ensure the Fund’s reach to all Nepali citizens as well as to develop the Fund as the social security provider organization for all Nepali since their birth to death.

He called for the smooth coordination among three-tier government as well as the local government for effective implementation of the Scheme.

Similarly, Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Sarat Singh Bhandari shared that the process to include temporary, wagers and contractual employees/workers in the governmental sector in the social security scheme was in final stage.

He informed that discussions were underway to invest Fund’s money in the productive sector.

Likewise, Danduraj Ghimire, Officiating Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security asserted that Nepal was a leading country in implementation of social security scheme among other countries in the South Asian countries.

According to him, the government was actively working towards including workers in formal, informal, self-employed and foreign employments in the Scheme.

Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre (JTUCC)’s President Binod Shrestha blamed that the employers were not generous in roping workers in the Scheme. He said that the government’s role in enforcing the Scheme was weak.

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) President Chandra Prasad Dhakal appealed with the government to consider investing the Fund’s amount in productive sectors as well as for job creation.

Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) President Rajesh Kumar Agrawal viewed that the relations between the employers and workers have been improving for few years and opined that the cordiality between the two sides be maintained.

Nepal Chamber of Commerce President Rajendra Malla spoke of the need to include workers from various sectors to the Scheme.

ILO’s Country Director Numan Ozcan argued that the social security was the rights of the workers and said the social security scheme would greatly contribute in reducing the risks in the lives of workers.

Fund’s Executive Director Kabiraj Adhikari assured that the Fund was actively working to ensure participation of as many as workers and provide them as many as schemes.

On the occasion, PM Dahal feted employers, service providers and organizations for registering many workers in the Fund.