KATHMANDU: The ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is set to launch its ‘Citizens, Policy and Leadership’ programme today (Monday), aimed at strengthening direct engagement between elected representatives and the public.
The party said the initiative is based on the principle that the essence of democracy lies in elected leaders remaining in regular contact with citizens and being accountable to them. The programme is intended to promote a people-responsive, transparent and results-oriented political culture.
Under the initiative, ministers representing the RSP will be required to visit the party’s central office at least once a month to engage directly with citizens and party members.
RSP Parliamentary Party Whip Prakash Chandra Pariyar said the programme is designed to establish a direct link between grassroots concerns and the process of formulating and implementing state policies.
In the first phase, an hour-long session in the evening will be open to the general public. Ministers attending the session will directly hear citizens’ grievances, expectations and suggestions.
The second phase will bring together ministers, members of the party’s Central Committee and members of the House of Representatives. Based on the issues and suggestions raised by citizens during the first phase, the participants will hold intensive discussions on contemporary, multidimensional and policy-related issues facing the country.
Whip Pariyar said the initiative is expected to strengthen coordination among citizens, the government and ministers, the legislature and lawmakers, and the party organization and Central Committee. He said such coordination would help the party develop a common strategy to address citizens’ concerns more effectively.
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