Interaction

New Nepal: Inclusion of various ethnic groups and minorities

Interaction program on the roles of NRN-Canada.
New Nepal: Inclusion of various ethnic groups and minorities.
Nepalese Community Society of Calgary (NCSC) organized a brief interaction programme with Dr Navin K. Rai* on August 31 at the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST), Calgary. The interaction session was attended by a total of 26 participants from both the Nepalese societies in Calgary. The main focus of the interaction program was to discuss as to how the cultural diversity in a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and multi-racial Nepali society would be preserved, protected and promoted. The interaction session was led by Dr Rai with a brief historical background of various Indigenous ethnic groups and caste groups in Nepal.
According to him, the saying the ‘Nepal-a garden of all kinds of flower’ will be true only when there is proportional representation and participation of people from all walks of life in the mainstream of Nepali politics and in all organs of the state. Answering to the query raised in the meeting, Dr Rai opined that the Nepali term ‘samabesi’ in the current context, is a ‘process’ in the constitution drafting procedure in Nepal. Presently the country is undergoing through a political transition; Dr Rai added that any issues for the national reconstruction and development should be inclusive of geographic region, religion, culture, ethnicity and language to depict true pictures of Nepal and the Nepalis. Dr Rai opined that it is necessary to embody these key elements for fairness and realistic representation in the decision making process. He further emphasized that these issues must be given full consideration in the writing of Nepal’s consitution.

Prepared by: Dr. Desh Subba

*Dr. Navin K. Rai, is the Lead Specialist and Team Leader in the World Bank’s Social Development Department. Prior to joining the Bank, Dr. Rai worked for the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) as team leader in the Philippines and Nepal. Dr. Rai holds a PhD. in ecological anthropology from the University of Hawaii. Opinion expressed here is entirely his own and does not necessarily represent the views of the World Bank.

Interaction program on the roles of NRN-Canada.
An interaction program was organized to discuss issues on None Resident Nepalese (NRN) in Canada. The program was held at the Centre for Newcomers, Marlborough, Calgary on October 5, 2008. The program was attended by over 20 participants including newly elected National Coordination Council (NCC) members of NRN-Canada from Alberta, members of both NCSC (Nepali Community Society of Calgary) and CNCA (Calgary Nepali Community Association) and the two guest speakers Dr Drona Rasali (Advisor, NRN-Canada) and Mr. Chitra Pradhan (Vice president, NRN-Canada NCC). The program was conducted by Mr. Bishnu Subba, NRN-Canada board member. NCSC Secretary Mr. Bharat Regmi, welcomed the guest speakers and the participants. Mr. Regmi highlighted on the existing status of Acts and laws in Nepal relating to NRN and dual citizenship issues. He suggested that all regulatory complexities and issues can be resolved through lobbying and negotiations by the Non-Resident Nepalese Association (NRNA).
Dr Rasali updated that the NCC (NRN- Canada), which is affiliated with Non-Resident Nepalese Association (NRNA) was registered on March, 2007 with the Government of Canada as a non-profit organization of the people of Nepalese origin residing in Canada. Dr Rasali explained that the registration at the Corporation Canada was renewed with reorganization forming a Provisional Executive Committee (PEC) in March 2008 with a view of making it a democratic, inclusive and more representative committee that would hold a national convention and NCC elections of NRN Canada. He informed that the NRN-Canada now has a duly elected representative body of NCC with its executives headed by the President Mr. Nabaraj Gurung since the successfully conclusion of the national convention held in Toronto on August 23-24, 2008.
Dr Rasali said that historically Gautam Buddha could be the first well-known NRN who gained divine knowledge and enlightenment in India after he left his country more than 2,500 years ago. The development of NRNA, however, was connected with FNCCI (The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry) which attracted NRNs around the world for investment and socioeconomic development in the country. He also highlighted some of the events and activities that are currently being carried out by NRN globally and Canada. In Canada, Census 2006 recognized Nepalese people for the first time as a distinct ethnic group, even though the population of Nepalese reported from the Census sample seemed to be underestimated. He realized that the understanting and cooperation of understanding and cooperation of Nepalese people living across Canada was phenomenal. There are hurdles and challenges ahead but Dr Rasali appeared more optimistic for achieving NRN’s goals.
Another guest speaker, Mr. Chitra Pradhan suggested that all NRNs should move forward for a common cause without wasting time on minor disputes. NRN-Canada is at developing stage evolving from an ad-hoc committee to a single umbrella organization of Nepalese in Canada. All people of Nepali heritage should take interest in getting involved in NRN movement to move forward with coordination and cooperation to achieve common goals. Inputs from all NRN members should come for NRNA’s International Coordination Council (ICC) and the concerned government for consideration of any proposals. Mr. Pradhan suggested that a ‘dual citizenship’ and a ‘heritage card’ should be the priorities of all NRNs. He said that an NRN with foreign passport should have the right to acquire identity cards or heritage card for making connection with her or his roots back in Nepal. The card should give them the right to travel to and from Nepal without visa and live in Nepal without restrictions. Moreover, he informed that currently NRN –Canada has provisional by-laws and objectives which were prepared to register the organization, and need to be finalized with wider consultations among NRNs. Mr. Pradhan felt necessary of bringing all the NRN conversation to people at grassroots as he believed that our strength lies on all people. With belief on collective strength, he requested all NRNs to participate in the activities of the organization to achieve its common goals.

There was a lively interaction after the presentation by both the guest speakers. Dr Betman Bhandari, the Chairman to the meeting suggested that NRNA should set the goals in the short term for dual citizenship (for immediate benefit) and in the long term including heritage card. He said that all NRNs should go univocally to achieve these goals for NRN development. He expressed that this is the right time to put matters to the Nepal government as Nepal is currently in constitution writing up process

Based on the existing document, the following are the objectives of NRN-Canada:
fostering closer relation and cooperation among Non Resident Nepalese living in Canada.
helping integrate new immigrant Nepalese with mainstream Canadian affairs.
leveraging the socio-economic and professional capabilities of NRNs towards meeting Canadian standard.
taking up the issues of interest of Non Resident Nepalese with the Government of Canada or Provincial Governments in Canada.
taking up issues of Non Resident Nepalese with the Government of Nepal.
functioning as an international organization to promote the interest of NRNs in Nepal.
helping strengthen Canada – Nepal relations and promote Canadian values of peace, prosperity, development and democracy in Nepal.
0rganizing national/regional/global conventions and conferences with a view to accomplish the objectives of NRN- Canada

The participants suggested that strategic activities are needed to achieve the goals of NRN. The floor was of the opinion that the primary concern is for dual citizenship but not for heritage card for at least to start with at this point of time. Some participants raised concerns that the government taxation policy and matters of security system could come in the way of awarding dual citizenship, which should be resolved after learning from neighboring country like India, which has started awarding dual citizenship for those living in selected countries. Dr. Nagendra Sharma, Mr. Prakash Regmi, Mr. Lalit Gauchan and Mr. Rajendra Prasai were among other participants, who provided inputs to the meeting from the floor.

The meeting realized the importance of organizing a more organized workshop in the next round in Calgary possibly with participation of other key persons from NCC, ICC and Nepal’s diplomatic missions for Canada.

Finally Dr Bhandari adjourned the program thanking the visiting speakers and all the participants.

Prepared by: Dr. Desh Subba