KATHMANDU, August 2

The Ministry of Youth and Sports will felicitate seven youths and two organisations with ‘Rastriya Yuba Pratibha Samman’ on the occasion of the International Youth Day 2015 which will be celebrated on August 12.

The 2015 International Youth Day theme is ‘Youth Civic Engagement’. It seeks to promote young people’s effective inclusive civic engagement at all levels.

Organising a press meet in the capital on Sunday, the MoYS said the youths and the organisations nominated for the honour were from various fields and had extended significant contribution to the development of the nation.

Sashi Shekhar Shrestha, Joint Secretary, MoYS, said they were going to felicitate the youths and the organisations this year to give them national recognition, as well as to encourage others to follow their path and show their talent for the benefit of the country.

Dr Rajib Kumar Jha, Rajan Khatiwada, Sushmita Maskey, Gomawati Pun, Pradip Pariyar, Bhabesh Khanal and Dr Bindu Sharma will be felicitated on the International Youth Day.

Similarly, Nepal Disabled Women Association and Association of Youth Organisation Nepal are the two organisations to be felicitated with the honour.

Dr Jha is a scientist, who was selected among ‘Hundred Talents’ by the Chinese government. Maskey is a mountaineer who led the First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition 2008. Khatiwada was selected for his contribution in preservation of arts and culture. Pun is a rights activist engaged in rescue of women victims and their empowerment. Pariyar has extended significant contribution to youth empowerment and leadership.

Khanal is the person behind the idea of creating largest human flag of Nepal. Dr Sharma is a littérateur.

Meanwhile, AYON, a network of youth organisations, is working for youth empowerment and NDWA is working for rights of disabled women.

Joint Secretary Shrestha said that individuals and organisations selected for the ‘Rastriya Yuba Pratibha Samman’ will get Rs 100,000 in cash and a letter of appreciation each.

MoYS is also going to felicitate 11 sportsperson with ‘Rastriya Khelkud Pratibha Samman-2072’ on the very day.

Bimala Tamang, Sompal Kami, Diwas Shrestha, Gyani Chunara, Bikram Bahadur Rana, Binita Budhathoki, Keshari Chaudhary, Pramila Chaudhary, Sunil Chaudhary, Sanju Maharjan and Rajani Maiya Joshi are the sportspersons nominated for the honour.

First seven sportspersons will get Rs 100,000 each and a letter of felicitation, while remaining four — Pramila, Sunil, Sanju and Rajani — will get Rs 50,000 each with a letter of appreciation.

The MoYS is also going to organise programmes throughout the week, along with NGOs, on the occasion of International Youth Day.

MoYS had feted 37 youths from various sectors from across the country with ‘Youth Talent and Youth Entrepreneur Motivation Award-2072’ on July 5 for their contribution.

The awardees

• Dr Rajib Kumar Jha: A scientist, who was selected among ‘Hundred Talents’ by the Chinese government

• Rajan Khatiwada: He was selected for his contribution in preservation of arts and culture

• Sushmita Maskey: A mountaineer who led the First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition 2008

• Gomawati Pun: A rights activist engaged in rescue of women victims and their empowerment

• Pradip Pariyar: He has extended significant contribution to youth empowerment and leadership

• Bhabesh Khanal: The person behind the idea of creating largest human flag of Nepal

• Dr Bindu Sharma: A littérateur