Parliamentary committees convene after lockdown break
Public Accounts Committee starts probe into alleged irregularities in procurement of the medical equipment, others direct government to ease Covid-19 restrictions. File photo Deepak KC/TKP
Several parliamentary committees that could not convene after the government imposed a ban on gatherings with more than 25 people are gradually returning to their business.
Various committees that have already convened are looking at issues ranging from alleged irregularities in the procurement of medical equipment to fight coronavirus to allowing projects of national pride to resume construction work .
“The parliamentary committees are gradually returning back to work,” Gopal Nath Yogi, acting general secretary at the parliament secretariat, told the Post. Committee members are meeting by maintaining proper physical distance, he said.
Lawmakers had been pressing the secretariat to convene the committees amid the concerns that the government’s actions to deal with the Covid-19 crisis and its consequences were far from enough. The government’s decision to authorise the Nepal Army to purchase medical items under government-to-government deals has also received criticism.
On Sunday, the Public Accounts Committee directed the Ministry of Health and Population to provide documents related to a contract officials signed with Omni Business Corporate International to procure equipment and protective gear needed to fight Covid-19. The government was forced to scrap the deal after reports surfaced that the items supplied were substandard and their prices had been inflated.
“The (health) ministry has been asked to provide details in a week and we will broaden our ambit of investigation after studying those documents,” said Bharat Shah, chairperson of the committee.
The National Concern and Coordination Committee’s meeting on Sunday asked the government to ease the lockdown restrictions in the areas where infection rates are low. The committee said it was necessary to resume economic activities adhering to proper precautions as daily wage earners have been hit hard by the lockdown which has been extended for the fifth time.
Dil Kumari Rawal , chairperson of the committee, said her committee has asked the government to allow national pride projects to resume construction. “But proper precautions should be taken,” she told the Post.
The secretariat said the Finance Committee, which held an informal virtual meeting two weeks ago, is set to convene this week. The committee will discuss the priorities of the national budget for the new fiscal year.
As the economy has been crippled due to the lockdown, the committee will suggest the government to go beyond the traditional preparations to focus on the revival of sectors hit hard by the present crisis.
The constitution states that the government must present its budget on Jestha 15 (May 29 this year). However, the government is yet to convene the budget session of Parliament.
Meanwhile, the Legislation Management Committee and Delegated Management and Government Assurance Committee of the National Assembly held their meetings on Tuesday. The legislation management committee formed a task force comprising senior advocate Khim Lal Devkota and officials from the secretariat to suggest amendments to the Infectious Disease Act as it was too old to address pandemics such as Covid-19.
Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus outbreak
UPDATED as of September 22, 2020
What is Covid-19? Covid-19, short for coronavirus disease, is an illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, short for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Common symptoms of the disease include fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
How contagious is Covid-19? Covid-19 can spread easily from person to person, especially in enclosed spaces. The virus can travel through the air in respiratory droplets produced when a sick person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. As the virus can also survive on plastic and steel surfaces for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours, any contact with such surfaces can also spread the virus. Symptoms take between two to 14 days to appear, during which time the carrier is believed to be contagious.
Where did the virus come from? The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that is responsible for everything from the common cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). After an initial outbreak in Wuhan that spread across Hubei province, eventually infecting over 80,000 and killing more than 3,000, new infection rates in mainland China have dropped. However, the disease has since spread across the world at an alarming rate.
What is the current status of Covid-19?
The World Health Organisation has called the ongoing outbreak a “pandemic” and urged countries across the world to take precautionary measures. Covid-19 has spread to 213 countries and territoriesaround the world and infected more than 31,405,983 people with 967,505 deaths and 22,990,260 recoveries. In South Asia, India has reported the highest number of infections at 5,557,573 with 88,943 deaths. While Pakistan has reported 306,304 confirmed cases with 6,420 deaths. Nepal has so far reported 65,276 cases with 427 deaths.
How dangerous is the disease?
The mortality rate for Covid-19 is estimated to be 3.6 percent, but new studies have put the rate slightly higher at 5.7 percent. Although Covid-19 is not too dangerous to young healthy people, older individuals and those with immune-compromised systems are at greater risk of death. People with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, or those who’ve recently undergone serious medical procedures, are also at risk.
How do I keep myself safe? The WHO advises that the most important thing you can do is wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol content. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands. Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces like your computers and phones. Avoid large crowds of people. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist for longer than a few days.
Is it time to panic?
No. The government has imposed a lockdown to limit the spread of the virus. There is no need to begin stockpiling food, cooking gas or hand sanitizers. However, it is always prudent to take sensible precautions like the ones identified above.
Binod Ghimire covers parliamentary affairs and human rights for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2010, he has reported primarily on social issues, focusing on education and transitional justice.
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