Kathmandu, Dec. 13
The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), has drawn
the government’s attention to the implementation of
non-resident Nepali (NRN) citizenship.
The association's President, Dr. Badri KC, submitted a
letter of memorandum to Acting Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, highlighting
delays in enforcing the provision of NRN citizenship. While the citizenship is
issued, there have been denials for constitutional economic, social, and
cultural rights to eligible individuals, he said.
"Although NRN citizenship has been issued, its
practical use faces legal challenges. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) should
facilitate the formulation of necessary laws to address this issue," Dr.
KC said to Acting Foreign Secretary, Rai.
In response, Rai acknowledged that the lack of
legislation before issuing NRN citizenship has caused complications. "The
constitution grants economic, social, and cultural rights, but citizenship was
issued without the supporting laws in place. This was indeed a shortcoming. A
draft NRN Act is now ready, and further clarity will emerge once it becomes law,"
he said.
Dr. KC also urged the ministry to address the concerns of People of Nepali Origin (PNO) and review the ban on working in Iraq. According to a statement issued by the NRNA, he pointed out that many Nepalis are employed in Kurdistan, Iraq, but face challenges renewing their passports and accessing consular services because of travel restrictions between Kuwait and Kurdistan.
He suggested allowing them to access services from
Nepali embassies in Qatar or the United Arab Emirates (UAE) instead. Acting
Secretary Rai assured him that the matter would be reviewed and resolved at the
ministerial level.
Likewise, Dr. KC urged for simplifying processes for
Nepalis employed, studying, or doing business in Russia by resuming labour
approval and renewal services, facilitating the renewal of labour approvals,
which were halted post-COVID-19, and amending laws to simplify the issuance of
NRN identification cards to long-residing Nepalis in Thailand, Myanmar,
Malaysia, Fiji and other countries.
The NRNA has called for revisions in the provisions of
NRN Act to identify Nepalis living abroad for more than 183 days, excluding
SAARC countries as the NRNs and including students also within this definition.
Dr. KC also requested to establish Nepali embassies in
countries with a high concentration of Nepalis. In the countries without
embassies, he proposed appointing honourary consuls based on NRNA
recommendations. He called for an inter-ministerial workshop to address NRN
issues systematically.
The NRNA President said that NRNs with Nepali identity
cards faced discriminatory treatment, such as being charged as foreign
nationals for domestic air travel. He urged the government to ensure they were
treated as Nepali citizens in such cases.
In response, Acting Secretary Rai assured that efforts
would be made to address these concerns gradually, in coordination with the
relevant ministries.
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