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UML mulling over two federal set-up options

KATHMANDU, JAN 01 -
The CPN-UML Department of Federal Affairs has proposed that the country be federated into eight or 12 provinces. In an effort to form the UML’s official stand on state restructuring, Department chief Parshuram Meghi Gurung floated two proposals on state restructuring at the party’s two-day residential conclave in Bhaktapur.

Gurung has proposed that eight federal states be carved out on the bases of their cultural identity, capacity and prospect of co-existence. As per his idea, five provinces will be formed in the hill and mountain regions while the southern plains of Tarai will have three. Two of the provinces will link the Tarai with the mountainous region in eastern and far-western regions. The 12 province model, according to Gurung, is designed with identity of indigenous nationalities and their capacities in focus. With this method, the Tarai will have four provinces while the hill and mountain regions will have eight.

The idea is said to have been floated also to forge an understanding among major political parties on the agenda. The idea supposedly addresses the opinion of political parties, demands of indigenous nationalities and report of the State Restructuring and Power Devolution Committee of the Constituent Assembly.

Gurung is for setting up five autonomous zones across the country for minority communities such as Chepangs and Dalits who deserve a state. He has proposed 10 autonomous municipalities with their own Cabinets. “We have floated the proposal based on the bottom-up approach. This will strengthen local bodies,” Gurung said.

The parliamentary committee has endorsed a 14-province federal model including two states bordering with India in Madhes. The Janajati caucus in CA has been demanding implementation of the report. But political parties, mainly the Nepali Congress and the UML, have been opposing the idea arguing that ethnic identity-based 14 provinces will harm the country.

UML leaders, including Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and some lawmakers, have been contributing their ideas to the report.

Indigenous lawmakers displeased

Lawmakers representing indigenous nationalities have expressed their dissatisfaction at the proposal. “The proposal is influenced by the principle of decentralisation,” said UML lawmaker Prithivi Subba Gurung, who is also the chairman of the Janajati caucus. He said the party has expressed readiness to carve even 22 provinces to foil the demand of indigenous nationalities that have been urging implementation of the CA committee’s agreement. “If you add 10 autonomous municipalities with their own Cabinet to 12 provinces, the number reaches 22,” he said.





The federal map

    Eight provinces based on cultural identity, capacity and co-existence of provinces,

    or, 12 provinces based on identity of indigenous nationalities and capacity

    Five special autonomous zones for minority communities

    10 municipalities with their own Cabinet

Posted on: 2012-01-02 09:20

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