Gyawali lauds Rotary

Kathmandu, Nov. 19

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has lauded the role of Rotary International (RI) in humanitarian works and relief support during the disasters.

" I would like to appreciate your noble deed during the time of disaster and national need," he said while speaking at RI District 3292's Meeting with Heads of Diplomatic and other Missions on Tuesday.

He said that there were grey areas in the country where neither the government could reach, nor the private sector had an interest. Organisations like Rotary go there in the time of need.

FM Gyawali recalled the recent support of the RI in the landslides of Gulmi and other districts and Terai floods.

He said that he was looking forward to the government and rotary collaboration. He also said that the ambassadors and diplomats were the bridges between Nepal and the international community.

Gyan Chandra Acharya, former United Nation's Under Secretary General, said that Nepal needed partnership of all to make a big change.

Appreciating the role of Rotary in various humanitarian support and development, he urged for the collaborations at the ground level.

Tirtha Man Shakya, Former Chief Secretary and former Chief of Public Service Commission, said that the RI District 3292 (Nepal and Bhutan) had 122 Rotary Clubs and 123 Rotaract Clubs.

There are 5,000 members in Nepal and 1.2 million members globally.

Rotary has launched projects like Nepal Literacy Mission (TEACH), water and sanitation in school, earthquake relief and rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes.

It is also recognising the contributors to the social change with Rotary Journo Award and Gopal Kamala Rajbhandari Rotary Vocational Excellency Award.

Kiran Lal Shrestha, District Governor of RI District 3292, said that the programme was organised to create better understanding and cooperation between the foreign missions in Nepal and rotary clubs in the country.

"We aim at creating collaboration for various development works at the local level so that more people could be benefitted from our programmes," he said.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 November 2019.