KATHMANDU: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Sobita Gautam, has urged all quarters of society for broad endorsement of political agreement reached between the then government and Gen Z groups.

Addressing a meeting of the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee under the House of Representatives (HoR) on Friday, the Minister said the agreement reached on December 11 following the September 8-9 Gen Z protest has acknowledged the demonstration as a ‘people’s movement’. She stressed that such historic political document should be accepted by all.

The society could plunge into absence of peace and conflict if such agreements are overlooked, the Minister said, reminding all stakeholders of the significance of the establishment of peace in the society. The Minister echoed the need for collective efforts and coordination in building a peaceful and prosperous society.

She also pressed the need for mobilising prisoners in productive works, pledging the prison reforms being based on a report by a study committee formed towards that end. Gautam added that Prison Act-2079 BS is being amended.

According to the Department of Prison Management, there were 26,029 prisoners aged 18 to 59 years as of June 25 this year. Hence, it costs Rs 135,000 per prisoner every year from the State’s coffer to manage their expenses. According to her, the total food and accommodation costs for these prisoners amount to Rs 3.51 billion yearly.

The Minister stressed the need for minimizing the trend of crime, supporting for active lifestyle of prisoners and engaging them in production and creative activities. Echoing the need to create an environment for prisoners so that they can contribute to social reform, she said that appropriate laws and policies should be introduced and implemented to achieve this.