English - Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal ...
English - Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal ...
English - Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal ...
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like health and education <strong>in</strong> another<br />
prov<strong>in</strong>ce, or work<strong>in</strong>g and conduct<strong>in</strong>g trade<br />
<strong>in</strong> another prov<strong>in</strong>ce. Social harmony should<br />
be ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed between different ethnic,<br />
religious, l<strong>in</strong>guistic and cultural groups, and<br />
prov<strong>in</strong>ces should cooperate on ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
peace and security and guard<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />
crime.<br />
M<strong>in</strong>ority rights <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce: The second<br />
group stressed that prime rights should not<br />
be provided <strong>to</strong> any particular community for<br />
the position of chief m<strong>in</strong>ister or head of the<br />
government. Anyone elected by the people<br />
of the prov<strong>in</strong>ce will be capable <strong>to</strong> serve as<br />
head of the prov<strong>in</strong>ce. Similarly, there should<br />
be equal access <strong>to</strong> the natural resources of<br />
the prov<strong>in</strong>ce and the prov<strong>in</strong>cial government<br />
should not provide<br />
f<strong>in</strong>ancial support any<br />
particular<br />
community.<br />
As people are conscious<br />
of ensur<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>ority<br />
rights and promot<strong>in</strong>g<br />
m<strong>in</strong>orities <strong>in</strong> the federal<br />
structure, they suggested<br />
reserv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
separate<br />
constituencies or seats <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>cial<br />
legislative assembly <strong>to</strong> provide access <strong>to</strong><br />
m<strong>in</strong>orities <strong>in</strong> the decision mak<strong>in</strong>g level of the<br />
prov<strong>in</strong>ce.<br />
Basis for restructur<strong>in</strong>g the state: The third<br />
group noted that <strong>in</strong> the process of develop<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a new structure for the state many his<strong>to</strong>rical<br />
communities have been identified and<br />
must be respected. Thus, ethnic habitation,<br />
language, cultural density and his<strong>to</strong>ry must<br />
be considered. At the same time, geography,<br />
economic potential, and the availability of<br />
natural resources are other important fac<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
The practice of<br />
discrim<strong>in</strong>ation has not<br />
ended, thus special legal<br />
provisions are required.<br />
-Bip<strong>in</strong> Dhakal<br />
The federal structure should ensure that<br />
government services are more accessible <strong>to</strong><br />
the people than they are currently. At the<br />
same time, this structure should not defy<br />
national unity and <strong>in</strong>tegration among the<br />
people<br />
Local government and its services: The fourth<br />
group envisioned a properly function<strong>in</strong>g local<br />
government with sufficient resources and<br />
authority <strong>to</strong> manage local level services and<br />
make them available and easily accessible<br />
<strong>to</strong> the people. For local level security,<br />
community and <strong>to</strong>wn police should be<br />
provided. Revenue should be collected from<br />
local taxes on land, water, forest, electricity,<br />
house rent, etc. Local roads, village roads,<br />
agricultural roads and irrigation should be<br />
ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed, and there<br />
should be an <strong>in</strong>tegrated<br />
service center for<br />
agriculture, lives<strong>to</strong>ck and<br />
land preservation. There<br />
should be management<br />
of local markets,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g import and<br />
export. The local courts<br />
should <strong>in</strong>clude services for reconciliation<br />
and mediation. Local languages, culture and<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>ms should be promoted. Telephone<br />
and other modes of communication, such as<br />
newspapers should be ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed.<br />
For efficiency and accuracy the group<br />
recommended that the local government<br />
take responsibility for services like education,<br />
health, ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g records of unemployment<br />
and other <strong>in</strong>dividual records. Thus, the Gaon<br />
Palika should provide free education <strong>to</strong> the<br />
secondary school level, and the municipality<br />
should provide higher education. The Gaon<br />
20 Federalism Dialogues Series 5