The second regional conference of the Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has demanded that Non Resident Nepalis too should be allowed to cast their votes in the elections for the Constituent Assembly in Nepal. The Association said such a participation would help represent the feelings of 1.4 million Nepalis residing around the world.
The two-day conference, that concluded in Bonn, Germany, on Sunday, also welcomed the recent ‘historic’ political changes in Nepal and said the NRN community the world over were committed to provide whatever cooperation necessary to lead the country towards all-round development, durable peace and (holding elections for the) Constituent Assembly.
The conference, that was participated in by 170 NRNs now living in 19 countries, urged the government of Nepal to introduce a new law regarding the NRNs by incorporating the suggestions provided by it.
In order to implement the commitments made in the second global conference of the NRN held last year, the Bonn conference set a deadline of 11 October 2006 (the NRN Day) to register a Nepal Investment Fund worth 10 million USD and later raise its worth to USD 100 million.
The conference welcomed the proposal to develop a 20 MW Maikhola hydropower project in the eastern district of Ilam with an investment of USD 41 million (nearly Rs three billion) and said the project was in line with the NRN Association’s commitment to help in the development of physical infrastructure in Nepal.
According to a statement issued by the NRN International Coordination Council (ICC) at the end of the meeting, the Bonn conference appointed a coordinator to implement the “One Village One Product” by pooling grants being made available by the government of Japan to 50 Least Developed Countries of the World. The coordinator would also liaise with the government of Nepal and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) in this regard, the statement said.
The Bonn conference also designated project coordinator to implement at least one project in 20 out of 75 districts of Nepal—in the first phase—in the areas of health, education, drinking water etc. The coordinators have been asked to submit their detailed project report before the NRN ICC within the next three months.
The conference has also set up a nine-member task force to identify problems being faced by Nepali migrant workers and recommend measures to resolve them.
The conference also decided to extend financial and technical assistance for infrastructure development of the Kathmandu Library and announced an assistance of Rs one million to the Buddhist Monk Service Association at Pharping being run by popular singer Ani Chhoeing Dolma.