Minister stresses youth leadership for local polls

KATHMANDU: Minister for Youth and Sports Daljit BK Shreepaili has stressed that the upcoming local level elections should establish youth leadership across the nation.

Receiving a memorandum from a delegation of various organisations demanding that the polls be used as an opportunity of youth leadership, the Minister said, "The Nepali politics needs youth leadership for only youth can develop and transform the nation."

The CPN Maoist Centre leader added, "We should elect at least 50 per cent youth leaders in the upcoming elections."

Demanding that stakeholders pay a needful attention to youth issues in the context upcoming local level elections, various youth organisations had submitted the memorandum to Shreepaili today.

The YOUthVoteNepal campaign, a joint initiative of various youth organisations launched to promote youths' concerns in elections, had held a meeting with Shreepaili today.

The campaigners demanded that youth should be prioritised in candidacy during the upcoming polls. Likewise, they demanded a due prioritisation of youths' issues including employment and self-employment and more budget allocation in youth-focused programmes in election manifestoes of the party.

Minister pledges for protection of child rights

Youth activists submit a memorandum to Minister for Women, Culture and Social Welfare Kumar Khadka in the run-up to the local level elections in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Photo courtesy: Deepak Sunuwar
Youth activists submit a memorandum to Minister for Women, Culture and Social Welfare Kumar Khadka in the run-up to the local level elections in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Photo courtesy: Deepak Sunuwar

Meanwhile, the campaigners also submitted a memorandum to Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Kumar Khadka today, demanding that the government prevented activities against child rights during the polls.

Receiving the memorandum, the Minister said all necessary steps would be taken for the protection of child rights. He also said the government was sensitive enough about issues of women.

"Considering nature of the incidents," he said, "We will take actions, issue instructions and make requests."

The YOUthVoteNepal campaign was launched to carry out advocacy on youths' agendas during the upcoming local elections. As many as 13 youth-led organisations are constituents of the campaign; including Yuwalaya, Achel Natya Samuha, Glocal Khabar, Sathi Sanga Manka Kura radio programme, We for Change, Yuwa, YAV Nepal, Sirjansil Samaj Nepal, Youth Initiative, Active Youth Society, Jagriti Child and Youth Concern Nepal and Dynamic Youth Forum.

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