The Norwegian Embassy has supported The Media Initiative for Rights, Equity and Social Transformation (MIREST) since 2008 with an aim to ensure that voices and concerns of citizens are streamlined in the new constitution through informed public debates and dialogues. With the project “Promoting Participatory Democracy through Informed Dialogues for Good Governance”, MIREST addresses the need for the concerns and rights of women and marginalised groups to be included in the constitution, and works to empower people to raise their voices for the improvement of governance and basic service deliveries at the local level.
CA members from the three major political parties met with local people of Mustang district on 28-29 April 2011 to discuss the constitution drafting process and development issues concerning the district. More than hundred people attended the public debates and meetings that were facilitated by MIREST. The Norwegian Embassy urged the people to use this open public debate to voice their problems and demands to the state through the panelists. The Embassy was also delighted to see such a high attendance from the general public and especially the women who have played an important role in socio-economic development in Nepal.
Some people travelled for more than eight hours on tractors to attend the meetings and engaged in a critical debate with the CA members. The people, who mostly represented marginalized groups, highlighted the importance of an inclusive constitution and expressed concerns of whether the constitution will be completed in time. They were also disappointed with politicians neglecting Mustang region in terms of development and requested a more equal distribution in Nepal. The CA members replied as best as they could and agreed that it would be wise to complete the draft constitution by the deadline of May 28th 2011. The debate was broadcasted at national TV the following week.