Kathmandu, September 15

The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens has developed a standard for nomination of members for the Central Senior Citizens Welfare Committee to make selection and appointment of office-bearers fair and transparent.

The Senior Citizens Act- 2006 states that the government shall form a 17-member committee headed by minister of women, children and senior citizens for the purposes of the care, maintenance and social security of senior citizens.

The standard is applicable for the selection and appointment of two representatives, including one woman, from among organisations operated for the protection of interests of senior, in CSCWC. The standard is also applicable for the selection and appointment of two persons including one woman, working in the field of religious and social activities in CSCW.

“Persons eligible to be appointed as the members of the committee shall be Nepali citizens having attained 60 years of age, with at least 10 years of experience in the concerned field,” read the standard. Any person who is not a Nepali citizen, has been convicted of offences (corruption, money laundering, human trafficking, drug smuggling, wildlife crimes and rape) involving moral turpitude and blacklisted under the law or has acquired permanent residency status of a foreign country shall not be eligible to be nominated as a member of the committee, stated the standard.

There shall be a five-member recommendation panel led by the chief of Senior Citizen Division at the ministry to recommend names of eligible candidates.

Tenure of the members shall be three years and they may be re-appointed. If a member commits misconduct or is found incompetent, the government may remove such member prior to the completion of his or her tenure.

According to the standard, the ministry acts as the secretariat of the committee.

Functions, duties and powers of the committee are to prepare policies, plans and programmes for the protection and social security of the senior citizens; implement and monitor the policies, plans and programmes approved by the government and update inventory and records of senior citizens.