A National Workshop on "Water and Sanitation as Fundamental Rights" conducted in Kathmandu

A National Workshop conducted in Kathmandu A National Workshop on the topics of "Water and Sanitation as Fundamental Rights" with legislator and "Progress Sharing and Future Plan Develop" with the members of FEDWASUN district chapters and stakeholders were jointly conducted as interaction on 23 July 2009 at Hotel Himalaya, Kupandole, Lalitpur in which a total of 90 participants were participated. The legislator, political leaders of different political parties, government authorities and officials, representatives of I/NGOs, civil society, members of FEDWASUN district chapter and central office and staff, journalists and other stakeholders were the participants in the programme where honorable Minister of physical planning/vice- Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadhar as chief guest inaugurated the programme by flaming on oil-lamp. The workshop has facilitated by Mr. Indra Tamang, General Secretary, FEDWASUN National Executive Committee, Kathmandu. The work shop was organized to make common issues and understanding of the legislator and political leaders to put the water and sanitation for all and forever as fundamental rights of Nepalese people in new constitution by interacting with each other in a single forum. In the programme, legislators and the political leader were put their arguments and commitments where the Chief Guest expressed his commitments to fulfill the government's millennium development goal. He also added " the sanitation condition is being weak day by day in hilly region than the Terai so, for promoting sanitation; package programme need to be manage and the government is initiating for necessary homework in it". The chief also highlighted the need of Melamchi project for supplementing water facilities to the people of Kathamndu, the government is initiating to construct it very soon although it has many challenges. Finally, he expressed his commitments to ensure water and sanitation as fundamental rights in new constitution as much as he can on behalf of the chief of the department of physical planning. Likewise, Mr. Hari Prasad Sharma, joint secretary, Ministry of Local Development and Physical Planning presented the concept of "Possible challenges to meet the millennium goal". Similarly, Mr. Keshav Mainali, legislator of the government of Nepal expressed his commitments to ensure the water supply and sanitation as fundamental rights by their party and added all parties should have positive thinking to make water and sanitation as common issues and understanding. At the end of the programme, Mr. Namaste Lal Shrestha, Chief of WASH division, UNICEF, Nepal highlighted the importance of positive thinking, joint effort among all (political party, stakeholder, civil society) which could ensure water and sanitation as fundamental rights in new constitution. Mr. Rajendra Aryal, President, FEDWASUN was closed the programme putting his words.