NRNs to push for open university, dual citizenship
BIJAY GHIMIRE
WASHINGTON D C, May 27: The fourth regional conference of Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) being held in Houston, Texas, from Friday will largely focus on issues like collective investment, open university and dual citizenship, said organizers.
The conference is set to have participation of some 300 NRN delegates from 12 countries. The participants will debate on education, investment, dual citizenship and ways to fight risk of earthquake in Kathmandu, among others, said Suman Timilsina, the president of NRN Association, America.
For the discussions, experts groups have prepared reports on science and technology and establishing an open university, he told Republica. Nepali specialists working in the respective areas in the US and Canada, among others, have been pushing for these new concepts at forums of the Nepali diaspora in recent period.
The idea of open university has been mooted because NRN experts believe they can engage in education sector and contribute in building human and social capital through it.
“This will enable NRNs to effectively share their expertise and knowledge,” said Timilsina. Nepalis working in the field of energy, engineering, genetics and other technical areas in various countries are in the experts groups on open university.
Top officials of famous universities of Texas and Canada too are scheduled to participate in the event to share their views and give feedback on the issue.
“How to better funnel the investments of NRNs in Nepal is another issue of discussion of the upcoming conference,” said Timilsina.
Previously, NRNs had decided to set up a collective investment fund for the purpose. However, the fund has not come into being till date. Considering this situation, NRNs have decided to review the concept of collective investment fund and work out more effective and workable mechanism.
The conference will also discuss how NRNs can play a role and launch rescue and support program in case large scale disasters hit Nepal.
Apart from these, the NRNs will also raise voice for dual citizenship, role of women in development and tourism development in Nepal. They will also hold information-sharing programs on various issues.
The government has started distributing identity cards to NRNs for the past few months in a bid to recognize them and to allow them to own property in Nepal.
However, NRNs are not satisfied with it. Instead, they argue that the government back home was trying to placate them just by granting petty recognition. The organizers said that the conference will not have participation of any minister from Nepal because of the fluid political situation back home.
“We had invited the foreign minister and education minister. But they informed us that they will not be able to attend the event due to political reasons,” said Timilsina.
Nepali ambassador Dr Shankar Sharma, President of NRNs Association Dev Man Hirachan, past president of the association Upendra Mahato and representative of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, among others, are scheduled to address the conference.
The event will also feature tourism promotion and cultural programs. There are more than 200,000 Nepalis in the US.
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NRNs To Push For Open University, Dual Citizenship
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