Kathmandu. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the government was working to ensure availability of the COVID-19 vaccine immediately, making it accessible to all the citizens.

In a message today on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, he said that the global COVID-19 pandemic has added challenges to the enjoyment of human rights, which also reconfirms the fact that right to live is the first right. Stating that federal, provincial and local governments are making maximum use of their resources and capacity in prevention, control and treatment of the virus, he said, “From almost zero we have now reached the capacity to rest thousands in a day. There has been historical growth in health infrastructure.”

He also said that the government has implemented the one local level: one health facility, free health insurance scheme for the senior citizens and free basic health service and emergency health service for all. These efforts are being carried out in order to realize the government’s goal of ‘healthy citizens for a prosperous nation.’

Human rights national plan in implementation

Prime Minister Oli has shared that the fifth national action plan on human rights with coordination and monitoring mechanism and timeframe as well as the responsibility of federal, provincial and local governments to realize the law-stipulated obligations and Nepal’s commitment at international level was under implementation. “The public inputs and deliberations, comments and healthy criticism would be a guide to the government”, he said, adding that the Nepal government has deep respect to the citizens’ sovereign right to keep vigil on their government.

The government also welcomes constructive criticism of opposition parties, media and civil society – the mandatory part of democracy, the prime minister said.
“However the act of hurting democratic system, institutions and social good will in the name of criticism would in no way be tolerable”.
Prime Minister Oli said democracy is a complete system of equal life and livelihood having strength to address the genuine aspirations of all members of society and it is the democracy which not only includes political but also all areas and aspects of social life.
Based on this, the government has centralized all efforts and activities to realize the national campaign of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’, Prime Minister Oli argued. (RSS)