Aagya Khabar
Janakpurdham

Madhesh Province has taken historic steps in the areas of social security and child protection, according to the Province’s Minister for Sports and Social Welfare, Pramod Jaiswal. He informed that the current fiscal year has been designated as the “Year of Social Security Strengthening.”

Speaking at a dialogue program titled “Social Security and Child Protection in Madhesh Province” held in Janakpurdham, Minister Jaiswal shared that the province has advanced several public welfare programs with the support of the European Union, the United Nations, UNICEF, and in coordination with Life Nepal.

He stated that the implementation of the “Household Insurance” and “Citizen Insurance” schemes from the 1st of Shrawan (mid-July) is a testament to the provincial government’s commitment to social security. In the first phase, insurance coverage has been extended to 100,000 households and 6,600 individuals. Minister Jaiswal also informed that the province is preparing to introduce a Social Welfare Act to institutionalize the social security system.

On the matter of child protection, Minister Jaiswal remarked that Madhesh Province has also taken progressive steps. He highlighted that the Girls’ Protection Act introduced by the province has made Madhesh the first among the seven provinces to implement such a law. Furthermore, he announced the launch of the “Beti Zindabad” (Long Live Daughters) mega campaign, which has been initiated with a dedicated budget starting this fiscal year.

During the event, Chief Whip of CPN-UML, Harinarayan Mahato, emphasized the need to continue the effective social security programs initiated by the previous government. Chief Whip of Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, Ram Ashish Yadav, expressed the view that the government should give special priority to bringing out-of-school children into classrooms.

The event was chaired by Ranjit Yadav, Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Social Welfare. On the occasion, Surendra Kumar Mahato, Chief Attorney of Madhesh Province, presented a working paper on the potential of social security systems and child protection in the province.