The newly appointed government of Bagmati Province, under Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya, held its first cabinet meeting on Tuesday and made six significant decisions focusing on disaster preparedness, response, and social protection.
The cabinet prioritized disaster management and social security, including the formation of a high-level integrated mechanism led by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Law. This body will coordinate emergency rescue, relief, and resettlement efforts, along with the management and mobilization of essential resources in the event of natural disasters such as floods and landslides.
The government also decided to arrange temporary housing for those who have lost their homes due to disasters. Additionally, in cases where roadways are blocked, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure will coordinate with federal and local governments to restore access as soon as possible.
To ensure sufficient resources for disaster response, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning will manage funding based on necessity and justification.
The cabinet further prioritized the needs of the most impoverished and marginalized communities in Bagmati Province — including Dalit, Jirel, Chepang, Bote, Hayu, and Bankariya communities — by pledging to formulate policies to ensure access to food, shelter, and clothing.
Chief Minister Baniya also announced that he will personally fund and hand over a house to an extremely marginalized family from his electoral constituency using his monthly salary.
In an effort to promote higher education among disadvantaged communities, the cabinet decided to offer scholarships for students pursuing degrees in the health sector. Through the Ministry of Social Development, scholarships will be awarded to 2 students in MBBS, 2 in Ayurveda, 2 in Veterinary Science, and 10 in Nursing.
Furthermore, the cabinet instructed all relevant ministries to implement resolution proposals passed by the Provincial Assembly. The meeting also appointed Water Supply, Energy, and Irrigation Minister Krishna Kumar Tamang as the official spokesperson for the provincial government.
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