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NRN Related Information |
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Statement of the President of NRN-ICC on the NRN Ordinance 2062.
On behalf of the International Coordination Council of the Non-Resident
Nepali Association (NRN-ICC) and on my own behalf, I thank His Majestys
Government (HMG) and all individuals and agencies involved in
promulgating the NRN Ordinance just before the Second Global NRN
Conference to be held in Kathmandu from 7 to 9 October. This is a
positive step forward.
This Ordinance has addressed some of the issues
raised by NRNs, but there is a significant variance with the
recommendations given by the NRNA earlier. It took two long years for
the Ordinance to be promulgated, but it has given a mixed impression to
the overseas Nepali community.
The Ordinance falls short of appreciating the potential and the
commitment of the people of Nepali origin (PNO) to their homeland. We
strongly believe that our potential to contribute to the socio-economic
transformation of our motherland lies in our networking ability, our
intellectual and knowledge transfer capabilities as much as capital
investment. Legal facilities provided to PNOs in the Ordinance regarding
ten year visa, property ownership, etc. are either unclear or
quite inadequate.
Similarly, given the fact that remittances of Nepalis working abroad
have been playing the most significant role in poverty reduction and
keeping our economy afloat, it is disappointing that the Ordinance
completely ignores their legal needs and concerns. We had recommended
that the Government make provisions for identity cards, special customs
and life insurance facilities, workers welfare fund and recruitment
policy for Nepalis working overseas. We anticipate that the Foreign
Employment Act, which we have been told, the HMG is planning to bring
out soon, will take care of these important issues of the migrant workers.
It is surprising that HMG decided to make significant changes without
consulting the NRN community, which is the primary stakeholder of this
Ordinance. We believe that Nepal still needs to learn from India,
China, and other neighboring countries, which have attracted and
integrated their overseas citizens in their developmental process with
numerous highly liberal legal facilities.
Disappointed and disillusioned we may be, but we are still ready to move
forward. We recommend HMG to redefine the term investment so that the
skill and knowledge transfer, intellectual contributions as well as
remittances sent by the PNOs are also considered on par with capital
investment or to abolish altogether as a prerequisite.
The Second Global Conference will deliberate on all the issues
of concern of the NRN community. We plan to discuss in detail the
shortcomings of the Ordinance in its current form. The Ordinance needs
to be amended as per the recommendations of the Second Global NRN
Conference. We request that HMG recognize the commitment of NRNs/PNOs
to their motherland and work with us in drafting the amendments.
Dr. Upendra Mahato
President
International Coordination Council
Non-Resident Nepali Association
September 17, 2005
Let's go to Kathmandu to attend the Global NRN Conference from
7 to 9 October, 2005.
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