सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
The Non-Resident Nepali Association has welcomed the provision of a ten-year free visa through an ordinance, calling it a temporary solution to the problem. It has drawn the government’s attention to the fact that there is still a need for long-term legal and practical management of the citizenship of non-resident Nepalis.
Talking to News Agency Nepal in Kathmandu, Non-Resident Nepali Association President Badri KC said that they welcomed the government’s adoption of an investment-friendly policy through the ordinance. However, he said that more concrete steps need to be taken on the issue of asset management and dual citizenship.
He said that it is necessary to find a long-term solution through the law by properly addressing the rights and contributions of non-resident Nepalis through cooperation between the government and the Non-Resident Nepali Association. He said that the remaining work should be done by amending and revising the Non-Resident Nepali Citizenship Act, while supporting the steps taken by the government. Edited excerpt of an interview with Badri KC, President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, by News Agency Nepal:
Why do you hear more disappointment and criticism when the ordinance brought by the government should make non-resident Nepalis happy?, ##Aren’t you happy?##?
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## No, we are happy. For the first time since 2048, the government has created an investment environment. This has opened the door to great opportunities for businessmen within Nepal as well as non-resident Nepalis. We warmly welcome it. This is also a welcome move.
This is also something we have been demanding for a long time. This ordinance has come to create an investment environment. It has opened the way for non-resident Nepalis to engage in economic activities like Nepalis. Apart from investment, many issues of economic, social and cultural rights of non-resident Nepalis are yet to be fulfilled. Such as the transfer of ancestral property, the issue of land and land sale, the issue of national identity cards is also equally important.
Issues such as transferring knowledge and skills learned abroad to Nepal, and certification of professional skills and competences are also issues that need to be resolved in Nepal. All of these are important. In addition, the right to reside freely in Nepal. The issue of the right to come and go is even more important. Non-resident Nepalis have started getting citizenship of non-resident Nepalis for the past 15 months. This is the way to get economic, social and cultural rights.
But the law related to this has not been made yet. Without the law, everything has been stopped. Just getting a citizenship certificate is not everything.
Currently, non-resident Nepalis who have obtained citizenship have to pay a large amount of fines or damages when they return abroad. They have to pay a fine of eight US dollars per day. We were demanding that the government first remove the problem of visa and immigration. Now, the issue of 10-year visas being free is not new.
Those who have obtained a non-resident Nepali card are given a 10-year visa free of charge. We understand what has been done for the time being as a temporary arrangement and facilitation for those who have obtained citizenship of non-resident Nepalis. This will save them from huge fines and damages.
We are in continuous discussions with the heads of all political parties in Nepal and the concerned ministers. All of them have unanimously said that the ordinance was brought to solve the problem immediately. They have also expressed their commitment to cover all issues including amendments when bringing the replacement bill in the upcoming session. They have said that arrangements will be made to apply stamp duty when entering and leaving Nepal.
When we should be fighting for our rights as citizens, the leadership got entangled in a 10-year free visa, ## There are comments that the pressure was not enough and that it has weakened##, ##How to understand this ##?
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## The Constitution has given all rights to non-resident Nepalis except political rights. The distribution or acquisition of citizenship also means creating an environment for the acquisition of rights. But the reality is a little different now. The necessary law has not been made for the acquisition of rights. At the time of the Non-Resident Nepali Act, 2064, we had been pressuring that a law should also be made that would explain what economic, social and cultural rights would be, and how they would be.
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## The Law Commission has sought suggestions to amend the law as demanded by the Non-Resident Nepali Association. It includes many of our demands and issues. The ordinance that has come now does not address all our demands, but we understand that it has come to remove the immediate problem. When the law is made, all issues will be covered. We believe that it will ensure minimum rights and entitlements.
How does this ordinance benefit, support and facilitate non-resident Nepalis? ?
Till date, non-resident Nepalis have been investing at their own risk. 99 percent of non-resident Nepalis have invested without the approval of the Government of Nepal. Currently, the existing law considers the investment of non-resident Nepalis as foreign investment. The law treats everything accordingly.
There is a cumbersome arrangement that requires a minimum investment of Rs 20 million and that approval must be obtained every time the investment is increased. This has been amended and made simpler and easier by the ordinance. It has made arrangements for investment in the same areas as Nepalis. This is very important. The amendment has opened the limits on the size of investment and capital. Now, any investment can be made in any area. This is an important aspect of economic rights. The ordinance has also made arrangements for purchasing movable and immovable property in Nepal.
How are you going to fulfill the remaining demands and bring the amendments made in the ordinance into law? ?
We are continuously working on ‘continuity in citizenship’. We have formed a team and worked. Now, in the upcoming winter session, we will work to bring the achievements made into law and put them into practice. Now there is a positive opportunity. We are continuously discussing and interacting with the concerned bodies, ministries, and political parties. We hold formal seminar interactions. We continue to increase pressure. We will introduce legislation in the winter session.
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