Government serious to provide dual citizenship to NRNs: DPM Oli
Deputy Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has said that the government is seriously working to provide dual citizenship to Non Resident Nepalis (NRNs) as demanded by them.
A programme was jointly organised by the FNCCI and NARA in Kathmandu to mark the Non-resident Nepalis Day on Wednesday, Oct 11, 06. NRN delegates, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Kul Chandra Gautam, Nepali businesspersons and government officials including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister KP Sharma Oli participated in the programme. nepalnews.com/ANA
A programme was jointly organised by the FNCCI and NARA in Kathmandu to mark...
Speaking at a programme in the capital, Wednesday, organised to mark the third NRN Day, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the government has no problem frecognizing NRNs as Nepalis, as many countries in the world do so.
“Though there is no provision of allowing dual citizenship, a need has been felt to amend the existing law in order to promote investment and technology transfer of NRNs,†Oli said.
“The government has taken the issue seriously, as two bills regarding Citizenship Act and NRN Act are under discussion in the Parliament, the hindrances and problems would be sorted out during the parliamentary discussions," the deputy premier further said.
NRNs have been demanding that the government recognize NRNs as overseas citizens of Nepal by providing them similar facilities but the government so far has not addressed their demand.
Speaking at the same programme, Girija Gautam, NRN from the US and Ram Thapa, vice president of NRN International Coordination Committee (ICC) said that dual citizenship was necessary to own the second generation of Nepalis living abroad, maintain ties with NRNs, encourage remittance inflow, attract NRN investment and transfer technology and skills.
Similarly, Kul Chandra Gautam, assistant secretary general of UN, urged the government to address those issues that hinder NRNs’ contribution to Nepal.
Referring to the cases of ex-British Gurkha soldiers, who are abandoning Nepali citizenship to get British citizenship, Gautam said that the issue would soon become a serious problem, if it is not addressed in time. “Any special consideration made for NRNs in terms of long-term visas, dual citizenship and other investment facilities would be of mutual benefit, both for NRNs and Nepal,†he added.
"The government must seriously work out how it can utilize knowledge and skills of NRNs in the country to build a social capital here," he added.
Making a presentation on remittances, Mallika Shakya, NRN working at the World Bank, Washington DC highlighted multi-facetted benefits of remittances and how they have become the life-line of Nepal, keeping Nepal’s economy afloat.
Source:
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2006/oct/oct12/news01.php
