KATHMANDU, MARCH 17 The Association of Nepali Origin (ANO) has urged the government to formally recognize people of Nepali origin living across the world by issuing them official identity cards, with the aim of strengthening their ties to their ancestral homeland. A delegation from ANO-a non-profit organization dedicated to uniting and serving individuals of Nepali heritage worldwide-met Minister for Foreign Affairs Balananda Sharma at his office on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum outlining the above-mentioned demand. The delegation included ANO International President Dilli Adhikari, Vice-President Sushil Panta, General Secretary Chudamani Bhattarai, and President of the Nepal Chapter Krishna Prasad Sapkota. The memorandum also called for the issuance of identity cards to people of Nepali origin who have been living abroad for generations. It further recommended establishing a dedicated 'Nepali Origin' desk in the arrivals section of Tribhuvan International Airport to facilitate their entry into their ancestral homeland. The organization also emphasized the need to protect the human rights of approximately 7,000 Bhutanese refugees still residing in camps in the eastern part of Nepal, highlighting the importance of ensuring their proper and humane resettlement. Minister Sharma responded that the demands are in line with Nepal's evolving national identity and pledged to take the matter seriously. Recalling his interactions with members of the Nepali diaspora during his past military service abroad, he expressed optimism that the initiative would help them reconnect with their roots. During the meeting, ANO President Adhikari stated that government support for people of Nepali descent living across the globe could attract significant investment, knowledge, and skills back to Nepal. The delegation reaffirmed its commitment to uniting Nepali-origin communities worldwide and urged the government to consider their demands from the perspective of national interest.