KATHMANDU: Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister Rameshore Prasad Khanal has called upon all employees and relevant stakeholders to promote good governance through effective public service delivery, ensuring that the interests of the populace remain paramount.

During a programme held today to mark the 26th General Assembly of the Public Administration Association of Nepal (PAAN) and the 21st National Conference on ‘Good Governance According to Youth Aspirations,’ Khanal, also Finance Minister, stressed the importance of the bureaucracy prioritizing national interests over personal gains and focusing on results-driven initiatives.

It was highlighted that the activism, dissatisfaction, and ideological engagement of the youth in Nepal have evolved into a new phase, which should be recognized as a call for democratic awareness and governance reform.

Following discussions, it was clarified that the Gen-Z movement emerged as a demand and alert from the youth for enhanced democratic awareness and governance reform.

A concept paper has been released, accompanied by 11 recommendations aimed at addressing structural deficiencies within the governance framework, tackling corruption, unemployment, unequal opportunity distribution, and other related challenges.

At the event, Sabita Aryal, a senior officer from Ratnanagar Municipality in Chitwan, received the ‘Outstanding Public Servant Award’ carrying a purse of Rs 25,000, while Jamuna Dangal, the executive head at the PAAN Secretariat, was awarded a cash prize of Rs 30,000.

Additionally, former secretaries of the Government of Nepal, Krishnahari Banskota and Bidyadhar Mallik, were recognized for their roles in establishing the endowment fund for this award.

PAAN elects new leadership

The 26th General Assembly of PAAN held today has unanimously elected a new executive committee under the chairmanship of Madhur Mani Acharya.

The executive committee comprises outgoing president Krishnahari Banskota, Dr Meen Bahadur Paudyal Kshetri as the vice-president, Dr Dilipraj Paudel as the general secretary, Subash Sharma as the secretary and Rajani Regmi as treasurer.

Similarly, Dr Susmita Acharya, Manju Kumari Jaisi, Rajendra Adhikari, Chandrika Pandit, Gokarnamani Duwadi, Tribhuvan Shrestha and Hira Shrestha are the members.

Salt Trading Corporation and the Center for Innovative Governance Practices are institutional members of PAAN, while Dr Dinesh Prasad Pant and Mukunda Prasad Niraula have been appointed as advisors.