'How do you find draft constitution?'

Lawmakers to ask for public feedback

KATHMANDU, July 10: The Constituent Assembly (CA) meeting on Thursday endorsed an action plan for publicizing the draft constitution and collecting public feedback within a period of 15 days.

An overwhelming majority at the meeting endorsed the action plan when Pramila Rana, chairperson of the CA's Citizen Relations and Constitution Suggestions Committee (CRCSC), tabled it for approval at the full CA meeting.

The committee that prepared the detailed timeline and plan will coordinate the task of publicity and feedback collection.

With the approval of the full CA, staff from the CA secretariat will leave for the districts on Friday, coordinate with local officials and make all the preparations for public hearings and interactions. When the lawmakers reach the districts the officials will complete the preparatory work.

The lawmakers will mainly focus their queries with the public on the major questions. "The first draft is before you. How do you find it? Give us your suggestions." This is the key question the lawmakers will ask the public.

The lawmakers will be in the capital until July 16 to discuss the annual budget over the next couple of days.

"The major objectives of the action plan are to publicize the draft constitution through media; conduct public hearings in each district and collect public feedback through various appropriate mediums," reads the document. "Suggestions and reactions will be received through various mediums from Nepali citizens in the country and abroad."

The feedback will be compiled and analyzed and a report prepared. The CA's Constitutional Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee (CPDCC) will discuss it and forward it to the full CA. The plenary will then send it to the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) for improving the draft constitution on the basis of the public's suggestions.

As per the CA plan, lawmakers will reach all 240 electoral constituencies and interact with locals, civil society members, representatives from the political parties and others.

Apart from publishing the text of the draft through various media, the CA also plans to collect feedback through its website, email, toll-free numbers, fax, post-box and other direct means.

The CA secretariat has said that lawmakers and officials involved in the task can use various means of transport, including airplanes, helicopters and road vehicles.

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