Speakers at a round table conference have suggested the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee to make the constitution more inclusive.

President of NGO Federation Dr. Arjun Karki addressing the participants in the day-long interaction program on the ‘constitution draft’ organized by Civil Society organizations at the Birendra Int’l Convention Center at New Baneswore, Monday, June 26 06. nepalnews.com/ANA

President of NGO Federation Dr. Arjun Karki addressing the participants in the day…
Speaking at the round table conference organized by a group of NGOs in the capital on Monday, CPN-UML MP Jagannath Khatiwada said the interim statute should be short, specific and oriented towards poor people.

Other speakers demanded inclusion of issues of women, ethnic minorities, homosexuals, students, Dalits and the disabled in the next constitution.

Advocate Geeta Basnet said, “There is no democracy for women because they have not achieved equal rights.”

Student leaders, including Thakur Gaire and Khim Lal Bhattarai, demanded provisions in the interim statute, which would guarantee free education until bachelors level and ending all kind of disparities in the education sector.

Representatives from Terai and Dalit communities also stressed the need of incorporating their issues properly in the interim constitution.

The Maoists and the leaders of the seven political parties formed a interim constitution drafting committee headed by former Justice of the Supreme Court Laxman Prasad Aryal.