KATHMANDU: The international committee of the Association of Nepali Origin (ANO) has urged the Government of Nepal to take concrete steps to formally connect people of Nepali origin living around the world with their ancestral homeland.

A delegation from ANO submitted a memorandum to Foreign Minister Balanand Sharma on Tuesday, calling for policy initiatives to recognize and integrate the global Nepali diaspora.

The delegation, led by ANO International President Dilli Adhikari, along with Vice President Sushil Pant, General Secretary Chudamani Bhattarai, and Nepal Chapter President Krishna Prasad Sapkota, proposed issuing identity cards to multi-generational people of Nepali origin living abroad. They also called for the establishment of a dedicated help desk for such individuals at the arrival section of Tribhuvan International Airport.

In addition, the delegation raised concerns over the nearly 7,000 Bhutanese refugees still residing in camps in eastern Nepal, urging the government to ensure their proper management from a humanitarian and human rights perspective.

Speaking after the meeting, Adhikari said ANO has been actively promoting Nepali identity globally and claimed that, with government support, the organization could help attract investments exceeding Nepal’s annual national budget.

Vice President Pant emphasized that ANO’s mission is to strengthen emotional and cultural ties among people of Nepali origin, urging the government to treat the issue as a matter of national interest. General Secretary Bhattarai clarified that ANO’s demands are primarily social, economic, and cultural-not political.

Receiving the memorandum, Foreign Minister Sharma acknowledged that ANO’s proposals could help expand Nepal’s global identity. He assured that a broader consultation with relevant stakeholders would be convened soon to reach a policy conclusion.

Sharing his personal experience from military service, Sharma noted that he had encountered many people of Nepali origin abroad and expressed confidence in advancing initiatives to reconnect them with their ancestral roots. He also informed that the government is working on efforts to rescue Nepali nationals from the Middle East.