NRNA finally registered at MoFA

Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has finally been registered at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) after a decade of its establishment. The general assembly of NRNA held in Kathmandu on Saturday had decided to amend its statute to comply with the definition of non-resident Nepalis offered by Non-Resident Nepali Act 2008. Talking to this daily, Foreign Secretary Arjun Bahadur Thapa said the registration process completed on Sunday and a certificate of registration will be handed over to NRNA at its sixth global conference to be inaugurated by President Ram Baran Yadav on Monday. NRNA representatives had applied for registration with an amended copy of the NRNA statute. With the amendment, one can claim an NRN status only after staying abroad for two years. After the Act was promulgated by parliament in 2008, NRNs had lobbied for giving Nepalis an NRN status if they stayed abroad for only six months. The issue of registration had been pending for the last five years as the government had refused to register NRNA going against the Act. The definition of NRNs was the main bone of contention between the government and NRNs. Registration of the association is the main agenda of candidates vying for NRNA presidency. The registration will pave the way for institutionalization of the association. Failing to unanimously elect its president, the NRNA general assembly has decided to elect its president only for a two-year term. Five NRNs were in the fray for NRNA presidency, but three of them -- Ram Pratap Thapa, Hitman Gurung, and Rameshwor Shah-- withdrew their candidacy. Shesh Ghale and Tenzi Sherpa will now be contending for the post. The election for the post of NRNA president and other office bearers kicked off on late Sunday evening. Around 1,300 voters will cast their votes to elect new NRNA leadership for the next two years. Bhawan Bhatta, Bhawani Prasad Oli, Bishwa Adarsha Pandit, Narendra Bahadur Bhat, Pemba Melbu Sherpa, Prahlad KC, T B Karki are in the fray for the post of vice president. Kumar Panta, Rajan Kandel will be vying for the post of general secretary and Ramchandra Kharel, Ranju Thapa and Shyam Bahadur Tamang will compete for the post of secretary. Arun Bahadur Shrestha and Badri KC wil vie for the post of treasurer.