Reporters Club Event: The recent appointees who won the elections to the executive committee of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) were felicitated amidst a program held in the Reporters Club. President of the Reporters Club and senior journalist Rishi Dhamala felicitated the new appointees garlanding and gracing them with the traditional Nepali scarf.

Newly elected President of NRNA Kumar Panta, Vice-President Sonal Lama, Mann KC and Arjun Kumar Shrestha, General Secretary Dr. Hemraj Sharma, Secretary R.K. Sharma, Treasurer Lok Dahal, Asia Pacific Deputy Regional Coordinator Khagendra Neupane, America region Women Coordinator Uma Karki was congratulated by Dhamala on the occasion.

Speaking at the program newly elected President Kumar Panta said “Our Nation will move towards the path of prosperity and our association has taken a firm resolve to make this a reality. The NRNA will play an active and even bigger role in the coming days to develop Nepal along with a new vision”.

The President said that “we cannot afford to linger as time is limited and the duration is short where we have to fulfill many promises and obligations of the past. The next two years will be crucial for us and we have to work toward fulfilling our responsibilities for the people and country. We are committed and will be responsible for our duties starting from day one”. President Panta said that the association will work towards creating job opportunities and play an active role.

(Newly elected President of NRNA Kumar Panta)

Panta said “NRNA who have gained experience, knowledge, and expertise along with wealth will be utilized for investments in Nepal. We will invest in the future of Nepal and its socio-economic development. We have already begun the process of investing in the country, through hydropower projects, and with the Government of Nepal (GoN) for 12 billion Nepalese rupees (NRs), we have also invested in various forms of mutual funds, private sector, and the GoN”.

The newly elected President Panta also spoke about the need for proper utilization of remittance that is received by the country into economically generating sectors. He also expressed commitment toward increasing the welfare fund of the workers doubling it in the coming days and that the work has begun.

He said ” the welfare fund currently has 10 million 5 hundred thousand NRs and to resolve the problems faced by the working people he will talk to the Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security Mr. Gokarna Bista soon.

The 9th general convention that recently concluded in the capital had glitches regarding the voting machines, and it came under heavy criticism. Speaking on this the President clarified that the “voting machines that were procured for the event were utilized in similar events and came under technical problems. Let us not get into a dispute, this has been resolved”. He was confident that the forthcoming elections of the NRNA will have an online voting method and it will be held outside Nepal.

President Panta also expressed that he will increase the membership of the NRNA, and scrap membership fees which have been a hurdle for people to join the association. “There are 8 million Nepalese worldwide and the want to see Nepal develop, our association will work strenuously for these aspirations of the people. Our future generations will take pride in our work, and Nepal’s prosperity is our vision, and its development is our need for the hour” he said.

Speaking at the program the other appointees too expressed their willingness toward working for the development of the Nation and assured all possible help from the association to make this dream a reality. Their immediate goal is to make Visit Nepal 2020 a grand success.

KATHMANDU, Oct 17: The 9th general convention of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has begun in the capital. There is a close race for the post of President between Kul Acharya and Kumar Panta.

There are 42 other positions within the association that are up for elections. The voting process was stalled yesterday but resumed this morning at 10 am.

The results are expected to be out later this evening. This contest is being seen as highly politicized, between Nepali Congress and the ruling Nepali Communist Party backing opposing candidates.

A senior leader of the Nepali Congress Ram Hari Khatiwada has said that “the ruling party is trying to rig the elections in their favor and there is a high level of interference leading to politicizing the entire process”.

The current slogan for the 9th convention is ” I, my NRNA, and my Nepal”, there are over 2500 delegates attending from all over the globe.

KATHMANDU, Oct 12: The 9th convention of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) is commencing on the 15th this month. The organization’s leadership will see a change where current Vice-President Kumar Panta and Kul Acharya are vying for the coveted post of leading the association.

The previous leadership including Upendra Mahoto, Jiwa  Lamichhane, Shesh Ghale, and Bhawan Bhatta have openly expressed their support for the current Vice-President Kumar Panta and want him to lead the association. According to the sources the previous leaders are also attending and supporting the candidates in a broader consensus among the previous leadership.

It is said that the broader consensus, that has been formed, is to bring Panta to lead the association and everyone is in agreement with this. They have expressed their choice openly, and people are even coming to conclusions as to whether the other candidate Kul Acharya will withdraw his candidacy for the post of President.

Panta has a long history of service for the organization, also as Vice-President under Shesh Ghale, and Upendra Mahoto. He had announced his candidacy in the 8th general convention too but withdrew in favor of incumbent Bhatta under the advice of Mahoto and Lamichhane.

According to the sources Bhatta is now promoting Panta for the top post. Panta has said that the NRNA will go in the line of Vision -2020 that was set up under the presidency of Shesh Ghale. The main agenda of the NRNA will be Vision-2020 and everyone is on the same page regarding this with no differences or disputes said Panta.

People have arrived in the capital city of Kathmandu and are now gearing up for the 9th general convention with most of the preparation completed, it will carry on from 15th to 17th. There are over 8 million Nepalese worldwide who are part of this association.