NEW DELHI: Pravasi Nepali Mitra Manch, a pioneer Nepali migrants’ association, which has been providing support to destitute and disadvantaged migrants particularly women and children since last two decades, has sought assistance from both the government of Nepal and India in its endeavour to build a shelter for the destitute in the Indian capital.

Addressing a talk programme organised on the occasion of international women’s day here today, Durga Prasad Aryal, chairman of the manch, said since a lot of Nepali migrant workers came to India

for work and for other purposes, there was an increased need for building a home so as to help them when they run out of money and need other emotional and material support.

He said his office has

also planned to open a library in the new building so that the children of Nepali Diaspora could learn about the language and culture of their native land.

Aryal said it was high time the government of Nepal and India made an agreement so that Nepali

migrants retiring from government jobs in India could get their pension in Nepal if they desired so.

Aryal also urged the government of Nepal to simplify the process of police reports so that Nepalis could join private and government jobs in India without delay. He said the government of Nepal should also think of providing Nepali passports to Nepali migrants from its embassy in India since the current provision which mandated the applicants to go back to their native place in Nepal had been a nuisance for them.

Uma Kant Parajuli, cultural councillor, Embassy of Nepal in India, said the embassy was well aware of their programmes and said the process of providing pension to the beneficiaries in their native place was in the final phase of implementation.

Binod Srivastav, Editor, Rojana Sabki Khabar, said the rights of disadvantaged groups could be better protected if Nepali communities make concentrated efforts for their own communities.

Kamala Pokhrel, publicity secretary of the manch,

underlined the need for Nepali women living in India to step up their own efforts to protect the rights of women and children.

Founder member Ram Prasad Neupane and legal advisor Advocate Prem Kshetri of the manch also highlighted the need

of a shelter home in the Indian capital.