The government has formed a task force to address the demands raised by transport entrepreneurs who launched an agitation by halting public transport services across the country on Monday.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak formed the task force to address the demands of the protesting transport entrepreneurs after holding a discussion with them at the Home Ministry on Monday morning. The Home Ministry said that the task force is headed by Joint Secretary Krishna Raj Panta from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
The task force includes under-secretaries from the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Ministry of Labor and Employment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, as well as a deputy superintendent of traffic police.
Under-secretary Rabindra Acharya from the Home Ministry is the member secretary of the task force.
Similarly, eight representatives of the transport entrepreneurs, including Bijay Bahadur Swar, chairman of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, are part of the task force.
The meeting assured the transport entrepreneurs that the government is positive about resolving the issue through dialogue and negotiations, and urged them to withdraw their strike and other protest programs, said Home Ministry spokesperson Ram Chandra Tiwari.
Speaking during the discussion, Home Minister Lekhak said that the government is serious about the entrepreneurs' concerns and that the issue can be resolved through dialogue and negotiations.
He also stressed the need for coordination with provincial governments saying some matters are linked to them as well.
Acharya, member secretary of the task force, said that they have already begun discussions.
"Following the formation of the task force at the Home Ministry, talks and negotiations have already started from today," Acharya said.
Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, Secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, heads of security agencies, and others also attended the discussion held at the Home Ministry.
