PM launches 'ambitious' plan to muster youths in nation-building

KATHMANDU, FEB 13 -

Amid much political wrangling to replace the government, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Tuesday announced an 'ambitious' New Nepal Development Trust (NNDT) to involve youths in nation-building.

The fund, set up with voluntary contribution from citizens, will be used to mobilise youth volunteers in various developmental initiatives and activities. Taking the lead, Bhattarai donated his half-a-month's salary, amounting to Rs 23,810, to the trust, following a meeting at his office in Singha Durbar.

"Let us all donate at least one day's salary to the New Nepal Development Trust to run the National Volunteer Campaign. I have donated my 15-days' salary," Bhattarai tweeted on Twitter after his contribution.

In the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, Forest Minister Yadu Bansha Jha, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Post Bahadur Bogati and Industry Minister Anil Jha also pledged to donate their 15-days' pay, while Information and Communications Minister Keshav Man Shakya and Vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission Dipendra Bahadur Chettri pledged 10 days' salary to the fund.

A meeting of government secretaries, held immediately after the PM's announcement, also decided to contribute five days' salary to the trust. Likewise, 49 secretaries will hold meetings in their ministries and offices and ask their subordinates to contribute a certain portion of their salary, said PMO Secretary Krishna Hari Baskota. The government also plans to ask non-resident Nepalis to chip in at least $10 each.

According to Secretary Baskota, the Ministry of Defence will seek voluntary contributions worth a certain number of days' salary from approximately 90,000 Army personnel. Likewise, the Ministry of Home Affairs will seek contributions from the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the National Intelligence Department, while the Ministry of Education will seek the same from teachers.

According to Baskota, the government will soon issue a public notice calling for at least one day's income for the NNDT from the general public, private sector employees and other professionals. "We have calculated that at least 10 million youths can be mobilised through the fund for a certain period. Basically, volunteers can work in various activities like disaster relief programmes, violence against women, establishing open defecation free regions, drinking water projects, road and bridge construction and health and literacy campaigns," said Baskota. Volunteers who express their desire and commitment to work for these activities will be paid a stipend through the trust. "They will be given some money as logistical support. We will not fund any project directly through this trust," said Baskota.

According to the NNDT guidelines, students pursuing Masters and Bachelors degress will either work in rural areas or contribute time to certain projects. During the Panchayat era, students pursuing Masters degrees needed to complete a mandatory year in the National Development Service (NDS). Students would not receive certificates without completing the NDS programme. Through the recently announced Economic and Good Governance Policy, the government has also made it mandatory for students from science, information and communication and medical science backgrounds and pursuing Masters and Bachelors to conduct a three-month internship in certain regions or projects. The NPC vice-chairman will mentor the trust while the NPC secretary will look into individuals and institutional proposals, sanction volunteers and assign jobs accordingly.

Source: The Kathmandu Post