Speaker Onasari Gharti has said that the local level elections are essential for the country’s development.

Inaugurating the 46th General Assembly of the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) in Sindhuli on Sunday, Speaker Gharti said the local polls would ensure the rights to the oppressed ethnic groups.

“The elections scheduled for May 14 will be conducted in political consensus as the three levels of vote should be held by January, 2018 to implement the constitution,” she said.

The Speaker of Legislature-Parliament urged the political parties to create an environment for holding all the polls in a free and fair manner. She suggested that the government and the political forces agree on the issues that could be sorted before the polls and assure resolution of the others after the May elections.

She expressed her hope that the political parties are capable of steering the country towards prosperity by holding the elections.

On the occasion, Speaker Gharti hailed the role of the Red Cross in the times of conflict and natural disaster. She lauded the organisation for its action that saved people’s lives during the decade-long Maoist insurgency.

Around 400 representatives and observers including foreign delegates attended the two-day assembly that began on Sunday.

Rs 1m donated for ambulance

Bel Bahadur Basyal of Kamalamai Municipality-1 donated Rs1 million to the Red Cross to buy an ambulance.

During the inaugural function, Basyal handed over a cheque to the Sindhuli chapter of the NRCS. Basyal, a Dalit who runs a small hotel at Kamalamai-6, said that though he was not rich, he was inspired to help after he got relief materials from the Red Cross when a fire destroyed his house 25 years ago.