A meeting of KMC Council, chaired by KMC executive officer and the representatives of political parties, had decided two months ago that ward secretaries must “compulsorily” learn Newa Language. [break]
Moreover, the meeting directed the administration department of KMC to arrange language training for the ward secretaries.
The decision was taken despite the fact that a Newa desk, set up at KMC to address one of the demands of Newa: Autonomous State Manka Struggle Committee, has remained useless for six months because no native language user came for help after facing language problem.
One of the ward secretaries, who preferred to remain unnamed, objected to the decision of making Newa language proficiency compulsory saying most people who visit ward offices are familiar with Nepali language.
Gyanendra Karki, spokesperson of KMC said that the department directed to arrange language training for ward secretaries has yet to start preparation for the same.
“We have a Newa Desk in our office to help those facing language problems. But it has remained useless because no person belonging to the Newar community has come to the desk for help,” Karki said, adding, “We have never faced any communication problem while carrying out daily official work.”
“Not even one application has been dropped at the desk for language help,” he said.
However, Ganesh Rai, executive officer of KMC, said having knowledge of Newa language is important as it would help ward secretaries to communicate with people coming from the Newar community.
Moreover, he said that this decision has come from consensus of all party representatives involved in the council meeting.
“The desk within KMC´s premises cannot help people fill forms that have to be filled at ward offices,” he said adding, “The new decision has decentralized the language assistance service.”
The KMC has 24, out of 35, ward secretaries from non-Newar community.
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