KATHMANDU, JULY 29
The family of the founder of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry late Prabhakar SJB Rana has established the Prabhakar SJB Rana Endowment Fund in memory of the legacy of the visionary businessman. The Prabhakar SJB Rana Endowment Fund handed over a cheque of Rs 10 million to CNN Hero 2012 and CNN Super Hero 2016 Pushpa Basnet yesterday.
"Late Prabhakar SJB Rana always wanted to make contribution to Nepali society and he believed that real contribution could be made to the society by those who had a feeling of selflessness. According to him, contribution is a symbolic act of compassion and empathy.
He had all the luxuries of life, but the fact that he had a compassionate heart and wanted to help fellow human beings as much as he could was more important to him," said NICCI President Shreejana Rana.
A pioneer of Nepali hotel and tourism industry, late Prabhakar SJB Rana was known for his morally guided business attitude and believed in earning credibility and transparency in his business because he believed 'that's what makes businesses successful'.
Founder and chairman emeritus of Soaltee Crowne Plaza, late Rana was also recognised for his initiative to bring an international hotel chain to Nepal. Late Rana had a vision of boosting the country's business sector, facilitate the private sector's capacity enhancement and outreach to the global market through soft and polite economic diplomacy. "He was of the view that since Nepal has a long, open border with its southern neighbour India, improved border connectivity could unlock Nepal's economic growth potential. And today, many people from Nepal and India share his vision on border connectivity," said Shreejana Rana. Late Rana established the binational Chamber of Commerce, 'Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry' in 1993 and started facilitating Indian investment in Nepal to provide better opportunity for Nepali youths by creating employment opportunities and enhancing their skills. Today, late Rana's efforts have begun to yield results.
NICCI has been continuing his legacy with new plans and programmes in place.
Late Rana was a pioneer in the hydropower development in Nepal, who played an important role in establishing Bhotekoshi Hydropower Company. His initiative resulted in ITC of India, Sipradi, Soaltee Hotel and other ventures, contributing to Nepal's economy by ranking amongst the highest tax payer company of the country. He succeeded in bringing binational/multi-national investments to Nepal.
He also contributed to the social welfare sector.
Prabhakar SJB Rana Endowment Fund is a social entity established in the name and memory of late Prabhakar SJB Rana. This year, the Endowment Fund has given Rs 10 million to CNN Super Hero Pushpa Basnet-led ECDC/ Butterfly Home acknowledging and honouring the great charity work being done by her. Butterfly Home is a dream shelter for innocent children living in jail with their mothers as they have no one to take care of them. There are many children in Nepal growing up in prison and living with their incarcerated mothers. These children are without educational opportunities, proper clothing, nutrition, and medical care. The financial aid that Prabhakar SJB Rana Endowment Fund has provided to ECDC/Butterfly Home will certainly change the lives of those children for their betterment.
When a woman is incarcerated in Nepal and when there is no willing caretaker to look after their children, the mother must choose either to leave their children on the streets or bring them to the prison along with her. Many mothers choose to bring their children to prison. Children growing up in the confines of jail cells do not have access to education, proper nutrition, warm clothing, medical care,and are vulnerable to physical, emotional, and psychological abuse and they live their young lives behind bars.
Pushpa Basnet (2012 CNN Hero and 2016 CNN Super Hero) and her team at ECDC have been showing continuous dedication and support towards these children. "The ECDC team has been working closely with government officials, prison administrators, and incarcerated women. The team has also been providing nutritional supplements for pregnant and nursing women, newborn kits and toys for babies, and relocating children from jail cells to a welcoming, supportive community at the Butterfly Home until they can be reunited with their mothers," said Basnet.
ECDC works in 34 prisons across Nepal. Currently, 43 children are thriving in a warm, loving family environment at the Butterfly Home.
The Prabhakar SJB Rana Endowment Fund has provided a donation of Rs 10 million to ECDC/Butterfly Home to honour the good work being done by the organisation in a bid to fulfil the dream of providing good education, nutrition and good life to those suffering children. "This exemplary act of compassion should encourage the Nepali corporate world and corporate leaders to come up with such initiative so as to unite Nepal for the sake of all of its citizens," said Basnet.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 30, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
