Government sources said on Sunday that Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (PMO) has directed concerned ministries to prepare the ordinances relating to untouchability, social inclusion and TRC. They have also been given specific deadline to finish the assignments.
The PMO’s directions to the ministries have come at a time when the Maoist-led government has been facing widespread criticism for trying to introduce new laws in the absence of the parliament. The government last Wednesday decided to bring three ordinances for setting up investment board, special economic zones and commission on disappearances.
A high-raking official at the PMO told myrepublica.com that the Ministry of Law, Justice and Constituent Assembly Affairs has been given February 11 as deadline to prepare the ordinance on untouchability. Similarly, the PMO has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry for Local Development to assist the law ministry to draft the ordinance.
The ordinance, law ministry officials said, is expected to have stringent provisions to punish those who practice caste-based discrimination besides declaring such a practice as criminal offense.
Similarly, the PMO has asked the law ministry to prepare the ordinance on social inclusion so that it could be formulated by February 11. “Work is under way to meet the deadline,” said another official at the law ministry said.
The ordinance, according to the officials, will ensure reservation for women, Madhesi, Janajatis, Dalits and socially backward people in public service.
Likewise, the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction has been asked to ready yet another ordinance relating to TRC by March 14.
kiran@myrepublica.com
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