Nepal starts collecting public feedback for constitution draft

Nepal's Constituent Assembly on Thursday endorsed an action plan to collect public feedback on the preliminary draft of the constitution.

At the Constituent Assembly meeting held here on Thursday afternoon, the work plan was approved by a majority amid protests by lawmakers of the Madhes-based parties of the Nepali Terai.

Lawmakers from four Madhes-based parties chanted slogans inside the meeting hall expressing dissatisfaction over the short time allocated for the action plan.

Speaking to Xinhua news agency after the meeting, Sadbhavana Party lawmaker Laxman Lal Karna said: "The 15 days' time approved for overall collection of feedback from public and amendment in the draft is too short."

According to the action plan, the Committee on Citizens Relations and Constitution Feedback has begun the procedure for collecting public consultation on the draft from Thursday.

Constituent Assembly members and secretariat staff will visit all 240 electoral constituencies in the Himalayan country's 75 districts to gather people's feedback on the draft.

The general public can also send their suggestions through telephone, fax, email and participation in the interaction programmes with lawmakers on July 20 and 21.

The committee is scheduled to present a report incorporating the suggestions and feedback from the people in 15 days, starting from Thursday.