National Civil Society Conference concludes with 19-point declaration

KATHMANDU: The NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN) concluded the National Civil Society Conference 2023 issuing a 19-point declaration. Stakeholders at the two-day conference organised in Kathmandu on April 6 and 7 demanded that the government address the problems being faced by the victims of usury. Farmers, workers and women communities in the country are afflicted by the unsystematic and imbalanced financial system, the declaration states. The victims of usury should feel the presence of the government, and in this context, a favourable atmosphere should be created for banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to increase their investment in the productive sector, the declaration states. At the conference, stakeholders accused all three-tier governments — federal, provincial and local — of trying to limit social organisations that have played a key role in restoring democracy, under various pretexts. The declaration demanded the strengthening of the democratic system with the participation of citizens. "It has been 16 years since the decade-long war ended, and conflict survivors are still waiting for justice," the NFN said, urging the government for ensuring transitional justice in a fair way. The social organisations have been marred by the government's policy of imposing excessive taxes on the donation amounts received from non-profit social organisations, and various donors to use for the welfare of people. The government should address such problems being faced by social entities at the earliest, requested the NFN President Ram Prasad Subedi at a press conference organised on Sunday. Pointing out that the Associations Registration Act, 2034 BS, the National Guidance Act, 2018 BS, and the Social Welfare Act, 2049 BS are not social entities friendly, he called for an amendment or the removal of these Acts and bringing an integrated 'Social Development Act'. Expressing its concerns about the lengthy and cumbersome process in the registration and the renewal of social organisations, it demanded a scientific and simplified process and an end to problems being faced by national and international social entities due to 'unnecessary hurdles created by the Social Welfare Council'. Stakeholders drew the attention of the government to inflation, and weakening economy, and stressed the need for maintaining good governance. The NFN assessment is that women's participation in the policy-making level is not in accordance with the Constitution and it demands the full implementation of the principles of inclusion and proportional representation in each state body to advance towards the path of gender and social inclusion, the crucial concern of the globe. Speaking on the occasion, the NFN Secretary General Arjun Kumar Bhattarai accused the government of being apathetic towards social organisations. He pointed out the crucial roles of social entities including civil society and mother's groups in every civic movement and urged the government to pay attention to them and address their concerns. "Social organisations implement projects for the welfare of people. But, why is the government so apathetic?" he questioned. If the government fails to act and address problems at the earliest, the situation will be such intense wherein the government for example will have to purchase and administer vaccines to Nepali people itself, incurring a heavy financial burden on the State coffer, he said. At present, the country has received vaccines, medicines and other essentials from foreign donor agencies during disasters in particular. The government properly monitors and regulates social organisations instead of limiting them, demanded NFN President Subedi. “The government must take stock of some laws and rules that are against social organisations. We are always ready to cooperate with it in creating an environment conducive for them to work," he said. READ ALSO:

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