We are committed to the implementation of education, health, food, and fundamental rights.

In Myagdi Rural Municipality of Tanahun District, there are a total of seven wards. The total area of this rural municipality is 115 square kilometers. According to the national census of 2021 by the Central Bureau of Statistics, the total population of this rural municipality is 23,578, of which 10,882 are males and 12,696 are females. Additionally, the literacy rate stands at 82.16%.

How have the issues of education, health and food rights, the process of adjudication by the Judicial Committee, and the role that local levels can play in the protection of human rights been addressed in policies and programs? An edited excerpt of a conversation between Prakash Chandra Bhattarai, the INSEC Tanahun District Representative, and Mr. Shree Prasad Shrestha, the Chairperson of Myagd1 Rural Municipality, Tanahun:

What have you done to make policies and programs human rights-friendly?

To make the policies and programs presented by the rural municipality human rights-friendly, input and suggestions have been sought from everyone. In areas concerning human rights, such as education, health, food, drinking water, and employment, feedback is collected and discussed at the stakeholder, ward, community, and public levels. Alongside infrastructure development, efforts are made to prioritize and include issues of citizens’ rights in the policies and programs.

How have you addressed the rights to education, health, and food in your policies and programs?

Once the subject of human rights is included in the policies and programs, the issues of education, health, and food are naturally encompassed within. Additionally, various programs have been allocated with a special priority on education, health, and food.

In the area of education:

Under the “Earning While Learning” program, students are encouraged to engage in poultry farming, vegetable and fruit cultivation within the school premises. There is also provision for mid-day meals up to grade 6, distribution of nutrition and scholarships, purchase and handover of school buses for community schools, and other educational activities. Additionally, there are programs for the implementation of free and compulsory education, improvement and merging of community schools, construction of school infrastructure, and emphasis on the Book Holiday program, along with grants for purchasing school buses.

In the area of health:

A 10-bed hospital is under construction. Programs include the operation of hospitals at the ward level, mobile health camps, especially for cervical cancer screening for women and health check-up camps for the elderly, free distribution of medicines, and use of medical equipment. Moreover, a waste management center is being operated using the municipality’s own resources.

In the area of food and agriculture:

Programs include the production of clean and fresh produce, emphasis on livestock farming with subsidy programs, distribution of free and subsidized fertilizers, seeds, and equipment, as well as the construction and operation of cold storage facilities.

What plans are in place to establish the rights of citizens?

The rural municipality is formulating plans, policies, and laws to establish the rights and interests of citizens through its policies, programs, and every operational plan. Efforts to ensure the establishment of citizens’ rights and interests include non-discriminatory distribution, emphasis on quality education and health, data sharing, subsidies in production, judicial resolution of disputes, and proportional distribution in development.

What is the status of the implementation of fundamental rights?

To implement the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Nepal 2015, emphasis has been placed on basic aspects such as education, health, and food. Additionally, there is a focus on providing subsidies for production, creating employment opportunities, and eliminating discrimination and inequality. Programs targeting women, children, and senior citizens have also been implemented. Examples of these targeted programs include the declaration of child-friendly local level, women’s empowerment programs, the establishment of senior citizen-friendly buildings, maternal and child nutrition programs, maternity allowances, and ambulance assistance.

What is the process of judicial adjudication by the Judicial Committee?

The Judicial Committee has been equipped with resources. Additionally, 70 judicial adjudicators are provided with 48 hours of training. The process of judicial adjudication involves initial discussions, attempts at reconciliation, clarification, and ultimately making a decision. If reconciliation fails or the decision is not understood, the case is forwarded to the district court.

Finally, what roles can local authorities play in the protection of human rights?

Local authorities can contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights by ensuring that policies, programs, budgets, and plans are human rights-friendly. They can prioritize the creation of plans focusing on women, children, senior citizens, and marginalized communities, implement fundamental rights, establish good governance in programs and budgets, eliminate discrimination, enforce principles of equality, and provide services directly to people’s homes. Through these actions, local authorities can contribute to the protection and advancement of human rights.